What is the SHINE Program?

The SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) Program provides free health insurance information and counseling to all Massachusetts residents with Medicare and their caregivers. People who have Medicare or who are about to become eligible for Medicare can meet with a counselor to learn about benefits and options available. A counselor will review programs that help people with limited income to pay health care costs.

MInuteman Senior Services provides SHINE Counselors to the 16 communities we serve. Most of them are volunteers and meet with community residents at a local Council on Aging. This position is a part-time, benefited position located at Beth Israel/Lahey Medical Center in Burlington, MA.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Minuteman Senior Services Regional SHINE Director, maintain state Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone (SHINE) certification to educate consumers and families regarding Medicare, public health benefits such as MassHealth and private health insurance options that work with Medicare.

The SHINE Specialist has a presence at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Winchester Hospital, and Winchester Cancer Care Center and will develop relationships with other health/social service organizations within Arlington, Burlington and Winchester to enhance community outreach.

In addition, the SHINE Specialist collaborates with the Regional SHINE Program Director to collect data using a pre/post SHINE consumer assessment tool and generates utilization reports.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serve as SHINE liaison for staff and consumers of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Winchester Hospital, and Winchester Cancer Care Center.
• The SHINE Specialist identifies community education opportunities within the designated communities and conducts group education in person or remotely.
• Provide accurate, unbiased Medicare and health insurance counseling to consumers.
• Collaborates with Regional SHINE Program Director to collect consumer data using the Community Health Benefits pre/post assessment tool; monitor data collection performed by SHINE counselors in designated communities.
• Perform onsite counseling at assigned locations during counselor absences or vacancies at Arlington, Burlington, and Winchester Councils on Aging.
• Assess client’s need for information and assistance regarding health insurance and public health benefit options using a variety of screening tools and resources.
• Assist consumers in accessing and applying for public health benefits programs to secure financial assistance available to limited-income people and non-residents.
• Collect and record data for SHINE Program.
• Attend monthly regional meetings and/or state meetings and trainings.
• General administrative tasks

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL HAVE:

• Successful completion of SHINE certification training and re-certification annually.
• Experience working with older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, and caregivers.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Comfort level with public speaking.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve and think strategically.
• Knowledge of or interest in learning about Medicare, insurance and public health benefits.
• Vehicle
• Proficient computer technical skills including use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and web-based applications.

COMPETENCIES NEEDED:

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Breaks down a situation into smaller pieces to identify key or underlying issues; organizes parts of a problem systematically and compares all aspects of a problem; figures out cause-and-effect relationships (if...then...) that can help solve it; recognizes and accurately evaluates the signs of a problem; analyzes current procedures for possible improvements; notifies supervisor of problems in a timely manner.
• Consumer/Customer focused: Makes consumers and their needs a primary focus of one’s actions; developing and sustaining productive consumer relationships.
• Listening, Understanding and Responding: Gives full attention to what other people are saying, takes time to understand the points being made, asks questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Creates effective interactions with others; deals with people in a direct, open, trusting and respectful manner; cares about what others have to say.
• Reliability: Takes personal responsibility; completes work in a timely, consistent manner; works hours necessary to complete assigned work; is regularly present and punctual; arrives prepared for work; is committed to doing the best job possible; keeps commitments.

About Us

For over 45 years Minuteman Senior Services has been helping older and disabled adults age with independence and dignity in the setting of their choice which is most often their own homes and communities. We have been supporting caregivers, local and long distance, who want to do the right thing for their loved ones and need help and advice as they balance the competing demands of family, work and self.

We offer over 20 programs and services and are continually improving and expanding. Our consumers give us very high marks as do our professional colleagues and that is very important to us. With over 140 employees, 900+ volunteers and over 70 subcontracted service providers that make up our vendor network we bring a lot of expertise, experience and resources.

Learn more by visiting our website: https://www.minutemansenior.org

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