Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)

About SHIBA

Solid Ground’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) help people understand Medicare rights and options. Our well-trained volunteers counsel people of all ages about their Medicare choices and options – including people under age 65 living with disabilities, people getting ready to turn 65, and those already enrolled.

SHIBA volunteers assist people through one-one one consultations through phone, video chat or in-person appointments. They answer Medicare questions, make referrals, and help evaluate and compare health insurance policies so people can make informed decisions to find the best possible coverage that meets their needs and fits their budgets. Volunteers can also help screen to see if people qualify for low-income programs to save money on Medicare coverage. (In partnership with the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Solid Ground is your local SHIBA office in King County.)

Upcoming Workshops & Events

SHIBA Volunteer Qualifications & Roles

SHIBA volunteers work to empower, educate, and assist Medicare-eligible people, their families, and caregivers through objective outreach, counseling, and training to make informed health insurance decisions that optimize access to care and benefits, and to detect and avoid Medicare fraud. As a SHIBA volunteer, you’ll have the option to perform a role that fits your goals, aptitudes, and interests. Read on for more on what it takes to be a successful SHIBA volunteer!

Training & Certification

Training varies for each role. The Counselor, Fraud Specialist, and Public Presenter roles include:

• Attend a virtual SHIBA basic training (8-hour training taken over two 4-hour days). Basic Training is recommended but not required for Outreach or Administrative/data entry roles.
• Counselors, Fraud Specialists, and Public Presenters must all successfully pass the SHIBA certification exam.
• Commit to 5 hours per week training alongside a SHIBA volunteer mentor and be approved as ready to counsel Medicare beneficiaries (Counselors, Fraud Specialists, and Public Presenters).
• All SHIBA volunteers must attend a 2-hour monthly Medicare training hosted virtually by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (at least 8 of the 9 trainings must be attended) per year.

Steps to Become a SHIBA Volunteer

• Fill out a Solid Ground Volunteer Application (webform) to initiate Solid Ground’s volunteer onboarding process.
• Attend a SHIBA Volunteer Information Session (see details below).
• Optional (but encouraged): Attend a Welcome to Medicare Webinar taught by experienced SHIBA volunteers.

Medicare Plan Resources

Booklets, Brochures, and Flyers:

• BROCHURE: Get help paying for Medicare – See if you qualify for a Medicare savings program and/or extra help
• BOOKLET: Paying for prescription drugs
• BOOKLET: What you need to know about Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans
• BROCHURE: About Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
• CHECKLIST: Your SHIBA Medicare action plan
• FLYER: Get help paying for Medicare – Information for American Indians and Alaskan Natives
• FLYER: Medicare and COVID-19 vaccine scams
• FLYER: Stop Medicare Fraud
• FLYER: Watch out for scam calls

Comparison Charts:

• Your Medicare coverage choices
• 2024 Medicare Advantage Plans (King County)
• 2024 Medicare hospital insurance covered services (Parts A & B)
• 2024 Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans
• Approved Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans (updates quarterly)
• Comparing Medicare supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans
• 10 Standardized Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans

SHIBA Partner Site Information

Interested in partnering with Solid Ground to run the SHIBA program at your organization? Currently, our program is primarily done remotely through phone consultations, and we have limited ability to place volunteers onsite for in-person counseling. Because of this, we’ve created an application process to place onsite volunteers at other organizations.

We prioritize community organizations that serve people where phone counseling would be an inaccessible service method and/or whose participants are impacted by health disparities and other barriers. Both Solid Ground and our partner organizations agree to run SHIBA collaboratively. SHIBA volunteers who work with your organization will be onboarded as your volunteers. Partner organizations manage the scheduling and oversee SHIBA volunteers while they’re onsite.

Solid Ground works in partnership with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to train, certify, and support SHIBA volunteers on Medicare benefits counseling. If selected, your organization will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Click below to apply!

Go to the SHIBA Partnership Application

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Contact Us

• Questions about volunteering? Email Sam Stones, Solid Ground’s SHIBA Program Lead, at sams@solid-ground.org.
• Need Medicare help yourself? Contact Solid Ground’s SHIBA intake line at 206.753.4806 or shiba@solid-ground.org to get connected with a SHIBA volunteer!
• Medicare Presentation Request Form: Want to host a King County SHIBA Medicare presentation for your group or organization? Fill out this form to get started. Please note that volunteer presenters are limited, but we’ll do our best to accommodate your request!

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