How to access help with Medicare
Costs vary depending on the services and drugs you use. The best way to determine which plan is best for you and your particular situation is to use Medicare’s online Plan Finder, which allows you to factor in your health conditions and the medications you take and compare costs. Go to Medicare.gov and choose the “Find Health and Drug Plans” button.
Florida’s Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) volunteer counselors provide free, unbiased guidance to seniors and their caretakers. To find your local counseling sites, visit floridashine.org or call 1-800-963-5337. It’s helpful to have a list of all your doctors, medications, dosages and monthly usage before meeting with a SHINE counselor.
You can also get help directly from Medicare by calling toll-free 1-800-633-4227, or visit online at Medicare.gov. There also is now an online chat feature. Government workers there generally have less time to spend with you than the SHINE volunteers do. The Medicare Support Hotline is available 24/7, except on certain federal holidays, and can provide assistance in both English and Spanish.
The Medicare Rights Center works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities. Call 800-333-4114 or visit medicarerights.org.
Details on Medicare Open Enrollment are available online in the 2026 U.S. Government Medicare handbook: https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
To learn more about Extra Help for drug plans, visit Medicare.gov/ExtraHelp.
Local SHINE offices
To make an appointment with a SHINE counselor in Orange, Seminole, Brevard and Osceola counties, call 407-450-7234; in Lake County call 1-800-262-2243; in Volusia County call 904-391-6644.
Times, days and availability vary from location to location. Call ahead to schedule; few locations accept walk-ins.
Orange County SHINE counseling offices
Senior Resource Alliance: 3319 Maguire Blvd., Orlando, FL 32803
YMCA Wayne Densch: 870 Hastings St., Orlando, FL 32808
Osceola County SHINE counseling offices
Hart Memorial Library: 211 E. Dankin Ave., Room 107, Kissimmee, FL 34741
Seminole County SHINE counseling offices
Senior Resource Alliance: 3319 Maguire Blvd., Orlando, FL 32803
Lake County SHINE counseling locations
Chula Vista Recreation Center: 1011 Rio Grande Avenue, The Villages, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Cooper Memorial Public Library: 2525 Oakley Seaver Dr. Clermont, FL 34711
Eustis Memorial Library: 120 N Center Street, Eustis, FL 32726
Lady Lake Public Library: 225 W Guava Street, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Leesburg Public Library: 100 E Main Street, Leesburg, FL 34748
Tavares Public Library: 314 N New Hampshire Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778
The Plantation at Leesburg: Ashley Hall Room 225201 US HWY 27 Leesburg, FL 34748
W. T. Bland Public Library: 1995 N Donnelly Street, Mt. Dora, FL ,32757
Brevard County SHINE counseling locations:
Central Brevard Public Library: 308 Forrest Ave., Cocoa, FL 32922
Cocoa Beach Public Library: 550 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Eau Gallie Public Library: 1521 Pineapple Ave., Melbourne, FL 32935
Franklin T. DeGroodt Public Library: 6475 Minton Road SE, Palm Bay, FL, 32908
Merritt Island Public Library: 1195 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL 32953
Port St. John Public Library: 6500 Carole Ave., Cocoa, FL 32927
Satellite Beach Library: 751 Jamaica Blvd. Satellite Beach, FL 32937
The Sunflower House: 3125 Fell Road, West Melbourne, FL 32904
Titusville Library: 2121 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville, FL 32780
Wickham Park Senior Center: 2785 Leisure Way., Melbourne, FL 32935
Volusia County SHINE counseling locations:
SHINE counselors are currently counseling only by phone. Please contact the ElderSource Helpline at 888-242-4464 to request SHINE counseling.
