More than 2 million senior Americans are receiving letters from the Social Security Administration about programs that could help pay their health care expenses, including approximately 4,700 in Sarasota County. Recipients of these letters are likely eligible for Extra Help, a low-income subsidy program for Medicare Part D prescription benefits or other Medicare Savings Programs. The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAAASWFL) wants to reassure seniors that these letters from the Social Security Administration are legitimate. Recipients are encouraged to contact the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program to determine if they are eligible and receive application assistance. The program’s counselors provide free, unbiased and personalized assistance with Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drug plans and long-term care insurance. Offered locally through the AAASWFL and a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and national SHIP Program, SHINE empowers seniors, their caregivers and family members to make informed decisions about health care coverage.

Florida SHINE