Needs From: Belmont Office of Community-Engaged Learning and Service

Do you find Medicare interesting?

Would you enjoy being a popular resource on all things Medicare for your friends, family and the community?

Then this opportunity is for you! Volunteers with the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) will learn how to break up the complicated issue of Medicare into bite size pieces for others and provide assistance to them in choosing the Medicare plans and assistance options (if applicable) that are right for them. You will learn to provide unbiased and accurate information to anyone you assist. 

SHIP Volunteers will be able to give clients peace of mind and can witness first-hand the impact they are making in the beneficiary's life with the information they provide. 

This training is designed for new volunteers to the program. Attendance of all activities are required to become certified as a counselor. The classes will build on each other, so it is important not to miss a session.

For volunteers who'd like to attend events to share Medicare information and do plan comparisons or administrative work for the program but NO direct client counseling there is the option to attend just up to the second-class session.

Any volunteer who would like to be a full counselor will need to attend the full curriculum (all three class sessions as well as participate in the required activities in-between the sessions). Full certification as a counselor requires a minimum of 12 hours of in class training AND additional mentoring thereafter until the volunteer is able to provide counseling on their own. 

Medicare Volunteer Certification Curriculum

Class 1: Thursday, February 5 from 8:30-12:30 (virtual via Microsoft Teams)

Class 2: Thursday, February 12 from 8:30-12:30 (in-person at GNRC's offices)

Class 3: Thursday, February 26 from 8:30-12:30 (in-person at GNRC's offices)

Part of your training is hands-on experience. You can participate in a variety of different events. The event schedule will be provided during the first session. In addition, we will schedule counseling calls for you to observe. You will be asked to provide your availability to shadow counseling calls between the 2nd and 3rd class.  

We will go over the training schedule with you to determine what level of training and commitment is best for you. Application forms and initial conversation with the Volunteer Manager are required for participation. Volunteers who can be involved regularly usually do best with this type of volunteer opportunity as it is very knowledge based. Please reach out with any questions to Rebecca at rnofi@gnrc.org.

GNRC will have a booth at Thrive55+ Health & Wellness Expo. You will be staffing the booth, giving out information and brochures and connect with beneficiaries or their family members.

We will coordinate with you regarding the materials and further details once you are signed up. 

GNRC will have a booth at Dandridge Tower's Health Expo. You will be staffing the booth, giving out information and brochures and connect with residents.

We will coordinate with you regarding the materials and further details once you are signed up. We need to provide our own table.

Project Description:

As a TN SHIP/SMP (Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program/Senior Medicare Patrol) Volunteer Medicare Counselor you will be assisting individuals who have questions regarding the Medicare program through one-on-one counseling over the phone, in-person, or via email. You will receive extensive training to assist Medicare beneficiaries and will be trained to provide free, non-biased and personalized counseling and referral services to a wide range of health insurance issues.

Project Purpose:

TN SHIP’s goal is to provide free, non-biased, personalized counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their families who need the help in navigating their way through the Medicare program. SHIP provides understandable and objective information to Medicare beneficiaries on a wide range of health insurance issues. Volunteers are essential in providing these services.

Key Duties:

Qualifications:

Location of volunteer job:

Senior centers, libraries, in-office at GNRC, other locations that are convenient to Seniors, and can be a work-from-home role once trained and proven ability to cover the topics with comfort and accuracy.

Commitment per month: 

Tennessee SHIP/SMP would appreciate a minimum of eight (8) hours of volunteer service each month for this volunteer role.

GNRC's Medicare Counseling Program is partnering with local universities for a Medicare Training focused on Plan Comparisons and a workshop day to help people in the community with their plan comparison requests that they have mailed in during the Annual Open Enrollment Period. 

We will hold a virtual training via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 8am to 12pm during which you will learn the basics of Medicare as well as how to do plan comparisons for beneficiaries. Please note that this training is ONLY for those interested in participating in the plan comparison workshop on October 31st. If you are interested in learning Medicare basics but don't want to or can't attend the workshop, let your professor know and we will provide that opportunity for you at another time. 

At the end of the training, you will take the certification test and be officially certified to complete Medicare plan comparisons. Certification is valid for one year. Update training is required annually to maintain certification. 

Those wishing to become full Medicare counselors (able to counsel directly) can pursue further training with GNRC. 

On October 31, 2025, from 8am to 12pm we will meet in person at Lipscomb University (details on room location and parking to be forthcoming via email for those who sign up) to have a plan comparison workshop. We will put the training to use and complete plan comparisons for people in the community who have mailed in their requests to SHIP. You will be able to make a big difference for people, helping them evaluate their best options for a Medicare Plan for the next year. Attendance of the training and successful certification is required to attend the workshop.

Additional opportunities to help with plan comparisons beyond the plan comparison workshop are available for those interested. 

Please sign up for this opportunity and Rebecca will follow up via email with the application form and Background Check Authorization. For questions reach out to Rebecca at rnofi@gnrc.org. Thanks! 

You would be staffing our booth and sharing information about the TN SHIP Medicare Program and Aging and Disability services. Training (if needed) and resources will be provided to you. You may need to transport a table and chairs.

We will coordinate materials and details with you once you are signed up. 

GNRC will have a booth at the Stewart County Community Bingo Fair. You will be staffing the booth, giving out information and brochures and connect with residents and keep track of how many people you share information with. 

We will coordinate with you regarding the materials and further details once you are signed up.

You would be staffing our booth and sharing information about the TN SHIP Medicare Program and Aging and Disability services. Training (if needed) and resources will be provided to you. 

We will coordinate materials and details with you once you are signed up.

A Senior Event may be scheduled and added to these available shifts.

You would be staffing our booth and sharing information about the TN SHIP Medicare Program and Aging and Disability services. Training (if needed) and resources will be provided to you. 

We will coordinate materials and details with you once you are signed up.