Medicare can be extremely confusing. Fortunately, there are volunteers in every state to help you with your Medicare questions and problems. And best of all, this help is FREE, funded by federal tax dollars. These programs, called SHIPs (State Health Insurance Assistance Programs), help people navigate through confusing Medicare waters.
Additionally, SHIPs give public presentations, conduct community outreach, communicate with the media, and offer training sessions for volunteers and professionals. Through these activities, SHIPs help people with Medicare make informed health benefits decisions.
Who do SHIPs help?
SHIPs help all people with Medicare. This includes older adults (age 65+) and younger persons who have Medicare because of a disability. SHIPs also offer this help to others who need Medicare assistance, such as family members, caregivers, and advocates.
How can SHIPs help me?
SHIPs can help you better understand Medicare benefits and resolve Medicare related problems. Some topics that SHIPs can help you with include:
Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A & B)
Medicare Health Plans (Medicare Part C)
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Medicare Part D)
Medigap Supplemental Insurance
Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare Fraud, Abuse, & Waste
Retiree Insurance Benefits
Long Term Care Insurance
Other Prescription Options, and
Medicaid (only some SHIPs)
Some problems that SHIPs can help you resolve include:
Filing a Medicare exception or appeal
Identifying Long Term Care options
Applying for Extra Help to pay for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage costs
Comparing and/or enrolling Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Understanding Medicare Health Plans vs. Original Medicare
Reporting Medicare Fraud, Abuse, or Waste
Applying for a Medicare Savings Program
Resolving Medicare claims or billing problems
Comparing and/or enrolling in a Medigap Supplemental Insurance policy How can I contact my local SHIP?
You can get the phone number for your SHIP by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Simply ask the Medicare customer service representative for the SHIP hotline in your state. Or, you can visit the national SHIP website to locate contact information for your SHIP. Go to www.SHIPtalk.org, click on ‘Find a State SHIP,’ and then select your state from the drop down list. You can contact your local SHIP by calling the toll free number displayed under the ‘Beneficiary Contact’ section of the web page.
