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Did you know Medicare turns 57 this Month?
[St. Petersburg] – July marks the 57th anniversary of Medicare when Congress created Medicare in 1965 as Title XVIII of the Social Security Act under President Lyndon Johnson. Medicare became effective July 1, 1966, and it’s the nation’s most extensive health insurance program covering nearly 50 million Americans. There are over 4 million Medicare beneficiaries in Florida.
Did you know you can apply for Medicare online even if you are not ready to start your retirement benefits? Knowing when to apply for Medicare is very important. You have a limited initial enrollment period to apply. If you miss the initial enrollment period, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium. If you’re eligible for Medicare at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after that birthday.
Many people find themselves uncertain about their Medicare options and the process for enrolling. The Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) Program is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is operated locally through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers can assist you with your Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. Senior Medicare Patrols (SMPs) empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report heath care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. To receive help from SHINE, individuals may schedule appointments at designated SHINE counseling sites, attend enrollment events in their local communities, or arrange to speak with a trained SHINE counselor at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337). For a listing of SHINE counseling sites and enrollment events, please visit www.floridashine.org.
Here in Pinellas County, where many residents are age 60 or older, SHINE is a vital resource. Each year SHINE serves seniors, retirees, the disabled, and other Medicare beneficiaries by providing free, unbiased information and an opportunity to speak one-on-one with a trained Medicare counselor.
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