SHINE
1-800-963-5337
Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging. TTY 1-800-955-8770.
SHINE's websiteAreas I serve
Medicare help close to home, around Lakeland
I'm Jeannie Pond, a Licensed Insurance Agent since 2009. I live in Lakeland and help people in Polk County and nearby compare their Medicare choices, by phone or Google Meet, or in person by appointment within about 25 miles of Lakeland (Polk and Hillsborough counties). Pick your city to see its Social Security office, its hospital and who else can help.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 14 organizations which offer 52 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Looking for a Medicare insurance agent near you? I'm Jeannie Pond, NPN 8940178, and I live in Lakeland. I help people in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Haines City, Bartow and Auburndale, all in Polk County, and in Plant City just over the Hillsborough line. We can meet in person by appointment in Polk or Hillsborough County, or talk by phone or Google Meet, and we compare the plans sold for your own county.
Pick your city
Six of these cities are in Polk County with me. Plant City is just over the line in Hillsborough County, and since Medicare plans can be sold county by county, its page starts there.
LakelandPolk CountyHome base. Social Security on Commerce Drive and Lakeland Regional to check.Medicare in Lakeland
Winter HavenPolk CountyThe Social Security office the locator lists first for east Polk, and when to sign up.Medicare in Winter Haven
Lake WalesPolk CountyThe oldest population of these cities: the Medigap window and the yearly review.Medicare in Lake Wales
Haines CityPolk CountyGrowing fast. What to do with a plan you brought from somewhere else.Medicare in Haines City
BartowPolk CountyNo Social Security office in town, and getting to 65 without a Part B penalty.Medicare in Bartow
AuburndalePolk CountyBetween Lakeland and Winter Haven, with a hospital and an office on each side.Medicare in Auburndale
Plant CityHillsborough CountyOver the Hillsborough line, where the plans can differ from Polk's.Medicare in Plant City
How we'd work together
We set a time that suits you. In Polk and Hillsborough counties we can meet in person by appointment, or you can call or open the video link, and we go at your pace.
Tell me what you use
Your doctors, your prescriptions with doses, your pharmacy and any hospital you care about.
I look up your county
I pull the plans sold for your ZIP code, which in Polk and Hillsborough aren't always the same.
We compare side by side
Costs, networks and drug coverage, in plain words. You decide, and there's no rush.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 14 organizations which offer 52 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Help that isn't me
These are worth knowing whether or not you work with me. None of them sells insurance.
Senior Connection Center
The Area Agency on Aging for Polk, Hillsborough, Manatee, Highlands and Hardee counties, so it covers every city here.
Senior Connection CenterSocial Security
1-800-772-1213
Where you sign up for Part A and Part B. Each city page names the office its locator lists for that city's ZIP code.
Social Security's office locatorMedicare
1-800-633-4227
1-800-MEDICARE, for questions about your Medicare itself, plus the plan finder on Medicare.gov.
Medicare.govNot on the list?
These seven cities aren't the edge of what I can do. My Florida license, W272782, covers the whole state, so wherever you live in Florida, give me a call.
Common questions about local Medicare help
Does Medicare have a local office near me?
Medicare itself is reached at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and Medicare.gov. Signing up for Part A and Part B goes through Social Security, which has offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Seffner; each city page names the one its locator lists for that city.
Is it worth having a local Medicare agent?
What matters most is an agent licensed in Florida who looks at your doctors, drugs and county before suggesting anything. I happen to live in Lakeland, so we can meet in person by appointment within about 25 miles of Lakeland (Polk and Hillsborough counties), and phone or Google Meet works anywhere in the state.
Where can I get unbiased help with Medicare in Florida?
SHINE, at 1-800-963-5337. It's offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and your local Area Agency on Aging, which for every city here is the Senior Connection Center, and it isn't connected to any insurance company.
Wherever you are in Polk County, let's talk
Send me a note or give me a call. I'll ask about your doctors and prescriptions, then we'll compare the plans offered for your address.
Jeannie Pond, Licensed Insurance Agent, NPN 8940178, licensed since 2009, based in Lakeland.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 14 organizations which offer 52 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week