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SHINE: Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

The SHINE Program: Serving the Health Insurance Needs of EveryoneThe SHINE Program is a State Health Insurance Program that provides free, one-on-one health insurance information, counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages.

The SHINE Program can assist you if you have questions about any of the following:

  • Medicare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare HMOs, PPOs)
  • Insurance Claim Forms
  • Medicare Supplements (“Medigap”)
  • Medicaid/MassHealth
  • Prescription Advantage
  • Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
  • One Care Plans
  • Health Insurance Options
  • Prescription Drug Options
  • Long-Term Care Insurance

SHINE counselors provide assistance in the 54 communities of Franklin County and parts of Hampshire, Hampden and Worcester counties. Some of the services that SHINE counselors provide include:

  • Reviewing your current coverage
  • Reviewing your eligibility for financial assistance
  • Providing health insurance plan comparisons
  • Helping prepare health benefit claim forms and applications

You can consult with a SHINE counselor by phone, meet with them at your area senior center, or request that they visit you at home. Counselors are volunteers trained through the SHINE Program. Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Please call 800-732-4636, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to find out more about SHINE and SHINE counselors serving your area.


SHINE Presentation by Lorraine York-Edberg, Western Mass. Regional SHINE Program Director, at the Hatfield Council on Aging, November 17, 2015


SHINE Training Session for Consumers at Greenfield Savings Bank in Turners Falls: I Am New to Medicare, What are My Options?


Western Massachusetts Regional SHINE Counselors

Town or OrganizationPhone
Amherst 413-259-3060
Athol COA 978-249-8986
Athol Hospital 413-773-5555
Bernardston 413-773-5555
Blandford 413-569-5498
Chester 413-667-2203
Conway 413-773-5555
Cooley Dickinson Hospital 413-582-2248
Cummington 800-498-4232
Easthampton COA 413-527-6151
Elm Terrace & Winslow Wentworth House, Greenfield 413-773-5555
Florence 800-498-4232
Granville 413-569-5498
Greenfield - Baystate Franklin Medical Center 413-773-2849
Greenfield Senior Center 413-772-1517
Hadley 413-586-4023
Hatfield 413-247-9003
Huntington Hilltown Health Center 413-667-2203
Leverett 413-773-5555
LifePath 413-773-5555
Middlefield 413-667-2203
Montgomery 413-569-5498
North Quabbin Region 978-544-3481
Northampton 413-587-1228
Northern & Southern Hilltown Regions 413-667-2203
Northfield 800-498-4232
Orange 978-544-3481
Pelham 413-773-5555
Plainfield 800-498-4232
Russell 413-569-5498
Shelburne Falls Senior Center & West County 413-625-2502
Shutesbury 413-773-5555
South County Senior Center (Conway, South Deerfield, Sunderland, Whately) 413-773-5555
Southampton 413-529-2105
South Deerfield 413-773-5555
Southwick 413-569-5498
Stavros/Amherst Center for Independent Living 413-256-0473 ext. 284
Sunderland 413-773-5555
Tolland 413-569-5498
Turners Falls, West County 413-773-5555
Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services 413-772-1571
Westfield 413-562-6435
Westhampton 800-498-4232
Whately 413-773-5555
Williamsburg 413-268-8407
Worthington 800-498-4232

Need SHINE help outside of LifePath's service area?

Click here for a list of SHINE contacts throughout Massachusetts.