Our Medicare section offers comprehensive, official information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The official government handbook, "Medicare & You 2008," includes sections on Medicare coverage choices, choosing a prescription plan, financial assistance, your Medicare rights, and more.

To view, download or print "Medicare & You 2008" in PDF format, please click here.

For more information about the Medicare Advantage Plans, other Medicare Health Plans, or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans available in your area, visit www.medicare.gov on the Web or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For more information about private insurance enrollment for Medicare D, click here.

Massachusetts SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs for Elders) provides unbiased information, counseling and assistance to elders about their healthcare options. More than 500 volunteer health insurance counselors provide one-on-one counseling in local office settings in almost every Massa chusetts community.

For additional information, call or write:

SHINE
Executive Office of Elder Affairs
One Ashburton Place, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108
(800) AGEINFO or (800) 243-4636

For more information about SHINE and publications on health insurance issued by SHINE, please click here.