Official Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) and federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for Dixie County, administered across DOEA Planning and Service Area 3 by Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc., Florida Sunbiz Document #739573, FEI/EIN 59-1777567, 100 SW 75th St, Ste 301, Gainesville, FL 32607, Toll-Free 1-800-262-2243 / 1-800-963-5337, https://www.floridashine.org) with local in-county counseling at the SREC Dixie County Senior Center (314 NE 255th St, Cross City, FL 32628, (352) 498-5018 Ext. 2 / (352) 498-2714) and the Dixie County Public Library (Three Rivers Regional Library System, 16328 SE US Hwy 19, Cross City, FL 32628, (352) 498-1219). Unlike commercial insurance sales agents who earn commissions selling specific Medicare Advantage plans, state-certified SHINE counselors provide 100% free, unbiased, non-commercial financial counseling to Dixie County seniors and disabled Medicare beneficiaries across Cross City (32628), Old Town (32680), Horseshoe Beach (32648), Suwannee (32692), and Jena (32359). SHINE counselors run side-by-side out-of-pocket cost comparisons for Original Medicare (Parts A & B), Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies, and Medicare Advantage (Part C) networks (verifying whether rural Dixie County providers and UF Health/HCA Gainesville specialists are in-network), audit Medicare Part D prescription drug formularies for Cheek Pharmacy in Cross City and Palms 340B Pharmacies in Chiefland/Trenton, and file applications for the Social Security Low-Income Subsidy ('Extra Help') and Florida Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and QI-1—which save eligible low-income seniors over $2,200 per year by paying their monthly Medicare Part B premium).
Official Verification Sources: Florida SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Official Portal; Elder Options (Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging — DOEA PSA 3 SHINE Counseling); Three Rivers Regional Library System — Dixie County Public Library (16328 SE US Hwy 19, Cross City)
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) & U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL)
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is administered in Dixie County by Elder Options (PSA 3, Sunbiz #739573, 1-800-262-2243) with local outreach at SREC Dixie County Senior Center (314 NE 255th St, Cross City, (352) 498-5018 Ext. 2) and Dixie County Public Library (16328 SE US Hwy 19, Cross City, (352) 498-1219).
Factual details and direct answers about SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) — DOEA PSA 3 Free Medicare, Part D & QMB/SLMB Financial Counseling (Cross City Senior Center & Dixie County Public Library)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Why should a Dixie County senior consult SHINE before switching to a Medicare Advantage plan advertised on television?
Because Dixie County has zero (0) in-county hospitals and limited local specialist clinics, some commercial Medicare Advantage (HMO/PPO) plans have narrow provider networks that may not cover doctors or hospitals in Gainesville, Perry, or Chiefland without high out-of-network costs. State-certified SHINE counselors (1-800-262-2243) do not sell insurance and provide an objective, commission-free check of your exact doctors and prescriptions at Cheek Pharmacy or Palms 340B Pharmacy.
How can low-income Dixie County retirees get the state to pay their monthly Medicare Part B premium?
SHINE counselors screen Dixie County seniors for Florida's Medicare Savings Programs—Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualifying Individual (QI-1)—as well as Social Security's 'Extra Help' (Low-Income Subsidy), which pays the monthly Medicare Part B premium (over $2,200/year in retirement income savings) and caps prescription copays.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Cross City and Dixie County.
Chana M. Watson, Attorney at Law, P.A. — Chana Marie Watson, Esq. (With Kyle S. Felty, Esq., B.C.S., Real Estate)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 578-2014
The Timbers Apartments (Cross City USDA Section 515 Senior & Family Housing — Royal American Management, With Fanning Springs Border Villas)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 498-3175
Cross City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (60-Bed Skilled Nursing, Post-Acute Rehab & Memory Care — Cross City)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 498-2005
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Seacoast National Bank (FDIC #109), Ameris Bank (FDIC #16480) & Capital City Bank (FDIC #9622) — In-County FDIC Senior, IRA & Estate Banking (Cross City)
Cross City, Dixie County
Seacoast Wealth Management (Cross City Branch) & Smith Asset Management Co., LLC (Independent SEC Fiduciary RIA — CRD #127684) / Lancaster Wealth Management
Cross City, Dixie County
Balog + Hodges, CPAs (Formerly Anne G. Hodges, CPAs — Cross City DBPR Firm #AD67179) — With Trenton CPAs W. Wesley Roberts, CPA (#AC0031519) & Max K. McGee, CPA (#AD65324)
Cross City, Dixie County
Capital City Strategic Wealth & Capital City Trust Company — Daniel D. 'Danny' Etheridge, CRPC®, CKA® (Cross City & Fanning Springs In-Branch Advisory)
Cross City, Dixie County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.