SHINE Program Mission Statement
Dear
I am pleased that you are interested in becoming a certified volunteer counselor for the Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) Program.
The enclosed information packet has been developed to give you an overview of the program and the responsibilities and requirements for a SHINE counselor. Please take time to read the information. If you are interested in becoming a certified SHINE counselor, please fill out the enclosed application and return it to me in the self- addressed envelope. Once I have received your application, I will contact you and schedule a time for us to meet.
I hope that you will decide to become a part of the SHINE Program. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me at (______) ______.
Sincerely,
Regional SHINE Director
SHINE Program Mission Statement
Mission Statement of the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP’s):
“We ensure that health care consumers have a competent, committed and compassionate consumer focused network of staff and volunteers who provide accurate and objective information through innovative community programs at the state and local level.
We promote fairness and quality, and empower consumers by facilitating solutions to individual and systemic health benefit problems.”
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts developed the Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) program in 1985 to help Medicare beneficiaries make informed decisions about their health care coverage and gain access to the medical care they need. In 1990, the US Congress created a national Health Information Counseling and Assistance Program (ICA) as part of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990. Later, the programs adopted the name of State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP’s). The Massachusetts SHINE Program was one of the model state programs used to develop the national SHIP system.
The goals of the SHINE Program and all SHIP Programs across the country are to:
- Educate Medicare beneficiaries of all ages about their health insurance coverage and benefits, consumer rights, insurance industry performance and consumer safeguards.
- Provide hands-on advice and service to individuals in understanding their health insurance coverage and eligibility for programs.
- Protect individuals from fraud, misdirected collection agencies and overzealous providers.
- Empower individuals to make informed decisions concerning health insurance options, exercising appeal and grievance rights and recommending system reforms.
The SHINE Program is funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts administers the program regionally through partnerships with 13 regional lead agencies. At the regional level, paid Regional Directors supervise a corps of counselors who have been trained and certified to assist individuals to make important health care benefit decisions. Health insurance counseling services are provided in a variety of community settings, including Councils on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, hospitals, libraries, multi-service centers, and community based organizations assisting people with disabilities, health clinics and faith-based organizations.
SHINE COUNSELOR JOB DESCRIPTION
General Description:
Under the supervision of the SHINE Regional Director, a counselor will provide health insurance and health benefits information, counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries of all ages.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Satisfactorily complete SHINE certification training directed by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs SHINE staff.
- Provide health insurance counseling services without conflict of interest and in compliance with SHINE confidentiality guidelines.
- Conduct individual health insurance counseling sessions.
- Assess client’s need for information and/or assistance regarding health insurance and benefit options.
- Assist client with claims processing.
- Assist clients with public benefit program applications in order to secure coverage under health programs for low-income persons.
- Provide referrals to appropriate agencies.
- Complete and submit Client Contact Forms in a timely fashion.
- Complete and submit Public and Media Activity Forms in a timely fashion.
- Participate in continued training by attending monthly meetings and re-certification as required by the SHINE Program.
- Willingness to assist at a neighboring site if need arises.
- Other duties as assigned by Regional Director
Qualifications:
Counselors must possess strong communication skills, be respectful of the client’s rights to confidentiality, be willing to learn and retain information relevant to health insurance matters, and must sign the SHINE Statement of Commitment.
SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Everyone) Program
COUNSELOR APPLICATION
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: ______
Telephone: (H)______(C)______(W)______
Address: ______City ______Zip ______
Email(s):______
Special Needs: Yes No Describe: ______
Languages: English Portuguese French Italian Spanish Yiddish Russian Cantonese Haitian Creole Other: ______
Driver’s License: Yes No
Would you be willing to make home visits? Yes No
Would you be willing to travel to attend trainings, meetings, and do counseling work at sites outside of the town where you live? Yes No
WORK EXPERIENCE
Current Occupation: ______
Prior Occupation: ______
Education: ______
Professional Associations/Organizations: ______
______
COUNSELING EXPERIENCE
Yes No If yes, describe: ______
______
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Have you or a member of your family been employed by or had a financial interest in a business or organization that provides financial planning, health care services, or health insurance?
Yes No If yes, please explain: ______
How did you hear about the SHINE Program? ______
What is your understanding of the SHINE Program? ______
Why do you want to become a SHINE Counselor? ______
How many hours are you available to do SHINE counseling?
Hours per week: ______or Hours per Month: ______
What special skills or interests do you have?
____ computer skills_____ public speaking______event planning
____ TTY experience_____ other ______
REFERENCES
Please list at least 2 references. List name, relationship (for example: supervisor, former coworker), telephone and/or address. I hereby give permission to check the following references:______
APPLICANTS SIGNATURE
______
(Signature) (Date)
As an applicant for volunteer work, I hereby acknowledge that, if I am selected for training and certification the SHINE Program is required to conduct a background check, called a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) inquiry, with the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board.
____ By checking here, I consent to having the background check performed.*
____ By checking here, I am stating I do not consent to the CORI inquiry of my background, and I understand that I cannot be considered for this volunteer work because I do not want a CORI inquiry to be conducted on my behalf.
______
Applicant’s Signature
* In order for a CORI check to be done, the following information is needed:
Date of Birth ______Social Security # ______
Applicant’s Prior Last Name(s) (if applicable) ______
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
One Ashburton Place, 5th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
SHINE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGREEMENT
I certify that my employment/volunteer position in the Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE Program) does not constitute a potential conflict of interest, as neither I or my immediate family are employed by or have a financial interest in a business or organization that provides prescription drug coverage or health insurance.
I agree that during my employment /association with the SHINE Program I will not engage in health insurance counseling, financial planning assistance including application completion and distribution of health insurance information for a profit.
I understand that I will be terminated for violation of this conflict of interest agreement.
______
Signature Date