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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.)
SHIBA is…
- Completely FREE and confidential: We keep your personal information safe.
- Accessible: Some of our volunteers and hotline operators speak languages other than English.
- Objective and unbiased: We don’t sell or endorse anything.
SHIBA advisors help with…
- Original Medicare
- Prescription drugs
- Low-income programs to help pay for Medicare
- Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans
- Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare fraud and abuse
- Issues with Medicare fraud
Watch SHIBA helps with Medicare, health choices to hear how Medicare counseling benefits both volunteers’ and customers’ lives.
Upcoming Workshops & Events
Join us for a webinar on Medicare’s Open Enrollment. In this FREE,... Read More » In this FREE presentation, you’ll learn about all parts of Medicare so... Read More » TO REGISTER: Call Peter Kirk Community Center at 425.587.3360. Join us for... Read More » In this FREE presentation, you’ll learn about all parts of Medicare so... Read More » TO REGISTER: Call 425-286-1035 or email janetz@mynorthshore.org. Join us for a presentation... Read More » In this FREE presentation, you’ll learn about all parts of Medicare so... Read More » Join us for a presentation on Medicare’s Open Enrollment. In this FREE,... Read More »Medicare Workshops & Webinars
Medicare Open Enrollment Webinar
Welcome to Medicare Presentation (Des Moines)
Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation (Kirkland)
Welcome to Medicare Presentation (Tukwila)
Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation (Bothell)
Welcome to Medicare Presentation (Kirkland)
Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation (Woodinville)
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!
Qualifications
- Willingness and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages.
- Good oral and written communication skills.
- Active listening and problem-solving skills.
- Enthusiasm to learn and share information related to health care benefits, including preventing, detecting, and reporting health care fraud, errors, and abuse.
- Ability to explain Medicare coverage, program rules, and procedures in terms that beneficiaries can understand.
- Awareness to request assistance if you need it.
- Ability to use a telephone, computer, and access email and the internet.
- Commitment to provide professional and confidential assistance.
- Motivation to research and make appropriate referrals to partner agencies.
SHIBA volunteer roles
- Counsel others
- Provide clerical support
- Participate in outreach activities
- Give presentations to the public
- Work on special projects
Current positions are remote with limited in-person opportunities; we can provide some technological equipment as needed.
Training & Certification
Training varies by role. Counselor, Fraud Specialist, and Public Presenter volunteers complete the following:
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) Trainings:
- Privacy & Confidentiality Training: Complete a 1-hour online training each year.
- OIC Basic Training: Attend two virtual sessions held on the last Tuesday and Thursday of the month, 1:00–4:30 PM. Attendance at both sessions in the same month is required.
- New Counselor Training Series: Complete a 6-week online course held Mondays, 1:30–3:30 PM.
- Canvas Web Course: Complete self-paced Medicare coursework online.
- Admin & Tech Training: Attend an in-person training at Solid Ground’s Wallingford office (with additional online sessions as needed) to learn SHIBA systems, resources, and data entry procedures.
- Mentorship: Train with a primary mentor and complete required skills and observation activities.
- Certification: Counselors, Fraud Specialists, and Public Presenters must be certified before serving independently.
- Role-Specific Training: Fraud Specialists complete additional Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) training. Public Presenters must have at least one year of Medicare counseling experience.
- Continuing Education: Attend OIC’s monthly 2-hour Medicare training (at least 8 of 9 sessions each year).
Before certification, volunteers can spend up to 80 hours per month on training, mentorship, outreach, and other volunteer activities. After certification, volunteers commit to at least one 4-hour phone counseling shift per week.
Outreach and Administrative volunteers complete the following:
Outreach and Administrative volunteers complete Solid Ground and OIC onboarding requirements, the annual Privacy & Confidentiality Training, Admin & Tech Training, and a brief role-specific orientation before signing up for volunteer opportunities.
Fraud Prevention Specialists (who provide fraud outreach and education but do not counsel) complete Solid Ground and OIC onboarding requirements, the annual Privacy & Confidentiality Training, Admin & Tech Training, OIC Basic Training, and Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) training covering fraud prevention, detection, reporting, and community outreach and education.
Steps to Become a SHIBA Volunteer
- Contact Us: Email shiba@solid-ground.org or carol-anns@solid-ground.org to learn more about the program and receive a link to our screening form.
- Join the Waitlist: After submitting the screening form, you’ll be added to our waitlist and contacted to proceed with next steps when we have capacity to onboard new volunteers.
- Interview: Meet with the SHIBA Program Lead and another Solid Ground staff member or volunteer for a one-hour interview to learn more about the role and determine whether it’s a good fit.
- Complete the Volunteer Application: Submit the Solid Ground Volunteer Application (webform) and complete the reference check process.
- Attend Volunteer Orientation: Register for and attend a Solid Ground Volunteer Orientation. Visit the Solid Ground Volunteer page for upcoming dates.
- Complete OIC Onboarding: Sign the OIC SHIBA Volunteer Agreement, complete the national background check, and finish the required Privacy & Confidentiality training and assessment. Once approved, you’ll be registered for the appropriate training track.
- Complete Your Training: Finish the training requirements for your volunteer role and begin volunteering. Time spent on training counts as volunteer time.
- Optional (but encouraged): Attend a SHIBA Volunteer Information Session (when available) and/or a Welcome to Medicare Webinar to learn more about Medicare and the SHIBA program.
- Optional (Age 55+): Complete an RSVP Registration Form to enroll in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an AmeriCorps Seniors program that connects volunteers age 55+ with community service opportunities and additional volunteer benefits.
Note: Non-counseling Outreach, Administrative, and Fraud Specialist volunteers complete the same Solid Ground and OIC onboarding requirements but can begin volunteering after completing their role-specific training, without following the full counselor certification track. See Training & Certification for more details.
SHIBA volunteer info sessions cover:
- The SHIBA program
- SHIBA volunteer tasks
- Training provided
- Next steps to becoming a volunteer
- Q&A time
Upcoming Info Sessions
No current volunteer events. Check back soon!
Medicare Plan Resources
Booklets, Brochures, Flyers & Online Resources:
- WEBPAGE: 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)
- BROCHURE: Solid Ground’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
- FLYER: Get help paying for Medicare – Information for American Indians and Alaskan Natives
- FLYER: Stop Medicare Fraud
- FLYER: Watch out for scam calls
- FLYER: Get help with Medicare in Spanish! / ¡Obtenga asistencia con Medicare en español!
Comparison Charts:
- Your Medicare coverage choices
- 2026 Medicare Advantage Plans (King County)
- 2026 Medicare hospital insurance covered services (Parts A & B)
- 2026 Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans
- 2027 Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans
- Approved Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans (updates quarterly)
- Comparing Medicare supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage 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
Contact Us
- Questions about volunteering? Email Carol-Ann Smith, Solid Ground’s SHIBA Program Lead, at carol-anns@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!
