There are currently no openings for SHIBA volunteers. To be added to the wait list, please contact the SHIBA Program Lead, Sam Stones, at sams@solid-ground.org.
Provide free, unbiased information about health care coverage and access to help improve the lives of all Washington state residents.
About SHIBA
The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) provides free, unbiased information about Medicare coverage and access to help improve the lives of all Washington state residents. We cultivate community commitment through partnership, service, and volunteering. Solid Ground is King County, Washington’s SHIBA sponsor in partnership with the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
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. SHIBA volunteers work to educate and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, error and abuse through outreach, counseling and education.
Roles & Time Commitment
Medicare Counselors typically volunteer a minimum of ~20 hours/month. We ask for a minimum 2-year commitment for a Medicare Counselor role. Volunteers typically increase their hours during Medicare Open Enrollment (mid-October to early December) to accommodate the demand in referral calls.
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.
- Ability and willingness to learn and share information related to health care benefits, which includes 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.
- Ability to request assistance as needed.
- Ability to use a computer, use Outlook email, and use the internet for research.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office programs, like Microsoft Teams and Outlook (or willingness to learn!)
- Ability to use a telephone to make outbound calls.
- Ability to provide professional and confidential assistance.
- Ability to research and make appropriate referrals to partner agencies.
Note that we can provide some technological equipment.
Training & Certification
- In addition to a Solid Ground volunteer application, those interested in the SHIBA program need to complete an additional SHIBA volunteer application.
- Complete a background check issued by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
- Complete online SHIBA basic training (8 hours training taken over two days through Zoom).
- Medicare Counselors must successfully pass the open book certification exam.
- Participate in training alongside another SHIBA volunteers or staff members before being approved as ready to counsel Medicare beneficiaries. Training will be about 16-20 hours per month for 6 – 8 months.
- 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.
Scroll down to apply & view upcoming volunteer orientations.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), and people with the lived experience of poverty are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity also qualifies as an RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) activity.
Solid Ground believes poverty is solvable.
Volunteers play a critical role in helping us meet basic needs, nurture success, and promote change – so everyone in our community can achieve their full potential.