Medicare is a federal program, so the rules are the same in Florida as anywhere else. What Florida offers is free local help to make sense of them. A move to Florida is also a common moment to revisit your coverage, because plans differ by area.
SHINE: free, unbiased counseling
SHINE, which stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and local Area Agencies on Aging. According to the program, specially trained volunteers help with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions through one-on-one counseling, and its services are free, unbiased and confidential. SHINE also helps Medicare beneficiaries’ families and caregivers.
You can reach SHINE at 1-800-963-5337. The program also runs Medicare classes, including virtual ones, and its volunteers provide counseling in person or by phone. SHINE is Florida’s version of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, which exists in every state.
Key takeaways
- SHINE counselors do not sell insurance.
- Call before your 65th birthday, before a move and before each fall enrollment period.
- Bring your Medicare card, current plan documents and a list of your medications.
The enrollment periods
| Period | When | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | 7 months: 3 months before the month you turn 65, that month and 3 months after | Sign up for Medicare |
| Open Enrollment | October 15 to December 7 | Join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage and drug plans; changes start January 1 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 to March 31, if you are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan | Switch Medicare Advantage Plans, or return to Original Medicare and join a drug plan |
| General Enrollment Period | January 1 to March 31 | Sign up if you missed your Initial Enrollment Period; coverage starts the next month |
Don’t miss your first window
Medicare.gov explains that if you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B, and that the penalty grows the longer you wait. If you qualify for premium-free Part A, coverage starts the month you turn 65; if your birthday is on the first of the month, it starts the month before.
If you sign up for Part B during the month you turn 65 or the three months after, coverage starts the next month. If you sign up during the General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, coverage starts the month after you sign up, and a late penalty may apply unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
If you or your spouse still have job-based health coverage, ask SHINE whether you can delay Part B without a penalty before you decline it.
Using the fall enrollment period
Every October 15 to December 7, you can join, drop or switch Medicare Advantage Plans and drug plans, with changes taking effect January 1; the plan must receive your request by December 7. In Florida, the plans available in your county and the doctors and hospitals in their networks are what matter most, so compare plans for your new address.
Part A without a premium
If you qualify for premium-free Part A, you can sign up any time after you turn 65. Medicare.gov says that coverage then starts six months back from when you sign up or apply for Social Security benefits, but never earlier than the month you turned 65.
Volunteering with SHINE
SHINE runs on volunteers, many of them retirees. The program says volunteers do at least one of four things: provide Medicare and health insurance counseling in person or by phone, give educational presentations, distribute educational materials in the community, or train and lead other volunteers. In return they receive professional training from the Department of Elder Affairs and their local Aging and Disability Resource Center. For a newcomer, it is also a way to meet people and learn how Medicare works in your new county.
Questions to bring to a counselor
- Are my doctors and nearby hospitals in this plan’s network?
- Are all my prescriptions on the plan’s drug list, and at what cost?
- What happens if I travel or spend summers in another state?
- Do I qualify for help paying premiums or drug costs?
- When can I change if the plan does not work for me?
Health and everyday safety
Good coverage works best alongside planning for Florida’s particular risks. Keep a two-week supply of medications for hurricane season, as described in Hurricane Season Preparation for Florida Seniors: Kit, Medications, Zones and the Special Needs Registry, and read Florida Heat Safety for Older Adults: How Hot It Gets, Warning Signs and What to Do for summer. If you are still settling in, the steps in Moving to Florida: A Residency Checklist for Retirees include updating your address with Medicare.