SHINE: Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone

The 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.

Download the brochure (537 KB PDF)

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 Regional SHINE Counselors for Franklin & the North Quabbin Area

Town or Organization	Name(s)	Phone
Athol	Ruth Black, Page Ann Coleman	978-249-8986
Bernardston	Dianne Ryan	413-773-5555
Elm Terrace & Winslow Wentworth House, Greenfield	Jennifer Glover	413-773-5555
LifePath	Mickey Paquette, Larry Bezio, Lucia Russom, Bonnie Telega, Dianne Ryan, Cheryl Richardson, Mary Johnson, Sarah Mancinelli	413-773-5555
South County Senior Center (Whately, South Deerfield, Conway, Sunderland)	Bonnie Telega	413-665-2141
Greenfield - Baystate Franklin Medical Center	Kathy Scott	413-773-2849
Greenfield Senior Center	Mickey Paquette	413-772-1517
Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham	Cami Elbow, Eli Kwarlter, Tyll vanGeel	413-773-5555
North Quabbin Region	Tracy Gaudet, Pauline Aldred	978-544-3481
Northfield	Diane Ryan	800-498-4232
Orange	Tracy Gaudet	978-544-3481
Shelburne Falls Senior Center & West County	Larry Bezio, John Pollard	413-625-2502
Sunderland, South Deerfield, Conway, Whately	Bonnie Telega	413-773-5555
Turners Falls, West County		413-773-5555

Hampden & Hampshire County SHINE Counselors

Town or Organization	Phone
Amherst	413-259-3060
Cooley Dickinson Hospital	413-582-2248
Cummington, Plainfield, Worthington	800-498-4232
Easthampton Community Center	413-527-5240
Easthampton COA	413-527-6151
Florence	800-498-4232
Granville, Chester, Tolland, Blandford, Russell & Montgomery	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, Chester, Middlefield	413-667-2203
Leverett, Shutesbury, Pelham	413-773-5555
North Quabbin Region	978-544-3481
Northfield	800-498-4232
Orange	978-544-3481
Shelburne Falls Senior Center & West County	413-625-2502
Sunderland, South Deerfield, Conway, Whately	413-773-5555
Turners Falls, West County	413-773-5555
Huntington Hilltown Health Center	413-667-2203
Northampton	413-587-1228
Northern & Southern Hilltown Regions	413-667-2203
Southampton	413-529-2105
Southwick	413-569-5498
STRAVOS/Amherst Center for Independent Living	413-256-0473 ext. 284
Westfield	413-562-6435
Westhampton	800-498-4232
Williamsburg	413-268-8407

Need SHINE help outside of LifePath's service area?

Click here for a list of SHINE contacts throughout Massachusetts.

State Medicare Patrol

Massachusetts SMP Program Success Story: Rita Viens (Word document)