In short
You can ask for Medicare help in the language you prefer. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for an interpreter; Medicare says this is available 24 hours a day, every day except some federal holidays. In Miami-Dade, SHINE at the Alliance for Aging has a Spanish line, 305-671-6376, for free, unbiased Medicare counseling. If you speak Haitian Creole, say so at the start of any call and ask whether an interpreter can join.
A useful next step
- Say your preferred language at the start of every call, before you explain your question.
- For Medicare itself, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask for an interpreter. For free counseling in Spanish, call SHINE at the Alliance for Aging on 305-671-6376.
- If a family member helps on the call, agree on the one question first, and ask what permission the organization needs.
A question to keep
Ask which cost-help programs I can apply for and what information is needed.
Questions people in Miami-Dade County ask
- Can I get my Medicare Summary Notice and handbook in Spanish?
- Yes. Medicare says you can set your language preference to Spanish in your Medicare account, or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to set it. The preference covers Medicare Summary Notices and the Medicare & You handbook.
- Who can explain Medicare to me in Spanish in Miami-Dade?
- SHINE counselors at the Alliance for Aging offer free, unbiased and confidential Medicare counseling. Call the Spanish line at 305-671-6376 or the English line at 305-671-6356. The Alliance lists office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- What if I speak Haitian Creole?
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for an interpreter. When you call a local agency, say at the start that you prefer Haitian Creole and ask whether an interpreter can join. Miami-Dade County offers some forms, such as its evacuation-assistance application, in Haitian Creole.
Official starting point
Read the official resource ↗Preparation guidance checked October 10, 2026. Ask the responsible service to confirm what applies to you.