State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
What is SHIPs?
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs help you explore your Medicare Options
The State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) is a national, federally-funded program of community-based, trained volunteers who provide individualized, objective, in-depth insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers.
SHIPs volunteers can help:
- Navigate the complex Medicare system
- Make coverage changes during Open Enrollment (Medicare’s Annual Election Period)
- Choose or review Medicare Health Insurance Plans
- Choose or review Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Options
- Explore Financial Assistance Program Eligibility for you or your loved one
- Explain Medicare’s Eligibility Guidelines
- Understand How Medicare works w/Supplemental Insurance, Medicaid, or Other Coverage
- Understand What Is and Isn’t Covered by Medicare
- Understand Your Patient Rights Under Medicare
Use the SHIP Locator or call 1-877-839-2675.
SHIPs are federally funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living
Find one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance with Medicare.
- Alabama 1-800-243-5463 http://www.alabamaageline.gov/
- Alaska 1-800-478-6065 https://dhss.alaska.gov/pages/default.aspx
- Arizona 1-800-432-4040 https://des.az.gov/services/older-adults/medicare-assistance
- Arkansas 1-800-224-6330 https://www.shiipar.com/landing-page/
- California 1-800-434-0222 https://www.aging.ca.gov/hicap/
- Colorado 1-888-696-7213 https://doi.colorado.gov/insurance-products/health-insurance/senior-health-care-medicare
- Connecticut 1-800-994-9422 https://portal.ct.gov/ADS-CHOICES
- Delaware 1-800-336-9500 http://delawareinsurance.gov/DMAB/
- District of Columbia 1-202-727-8370 https://dcoa.dc.gov/service/dc-state-health-insurance-assistance-program-ship
- Florida 1-800-963-5337 http://www.floridashine.org/
- Georgia 1-866-552-4464 https://aging.georgia.gov/georgia-ship
- Guam 1-671-735-7415 http://dphss.guam.gov/
- Hawaii 1-888-875-9229 http://www.hawaiiship.org/
- Idaho 1-800-247-4422 http://www.shiba.idaho.gov
- Illinois 1-800-252-8966 https://www2.illinois.gov/aging/ship/Pages/default.aspx
- Indiana 1-800-452-4800 http://www.medicare.in.gov/
- Iowa 1-800-351-4664 https://shiip.iowa.gov/
- Kansas 1-800-860-5260 http://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/commission-on-aging/medicare-programs/shick
- Kentucky 1-877-293-7447 https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dail/Pages/ship.aspx
- Louisiana 1-800-259-5300 http://www.ldi.la.gov/consumers/senior-health-shiip
- Maine 1-800-262-2232 http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oads/community-support/ship.html
- Maryland 1-800-243-3425 https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/state-health-insurance-program.aspx
- Massachusetts 1-800-243-4636 https://www.mass.gov/health-insurance-counseling
- Michigan 1-800-803-7174 http://www.mmapinc.org/
- Minnesota 1-800-333-2433 https://mn.gov/senior-linkage-line/
- Mississippi 1-844-822-4622 http://www.mdhs.ms.gov/adults-seniors/services-for-seniors/state-health-insurance-ssistance-program/
- Missouri 1-800-390-3330 http://missouriclaim.org/
- Montana 1-800-551-3191 https://dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/ship
- Nebraska 1-800-234-7119 https://doi.nebraska.gov/consumer/senior-health
- Nevada 1-800-307-4444 https://www.nevadacareconnection.org/care-options/types-of-services/healthcare/medicare-assistance-program-map/
- New Hampshire 1-866-634-9412 https://www.servicelink.nh.gov/medicare/index.htm
- New Jersey 1-800-792-8820 http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/services/ship/index.html
- New Mexico 1-800-432-2080 http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/
- New York 1-800-701-0501 https://aging.ny.gov/health-insurance-information-counseling-and-assistance
- North Carolina 1-855-408-1212 http://www.ncshiip.com/
- North Dakota 1-888-575-6611 https://www.insurance.nd.gov/shic-medicare
- Ohio 1-800-686-1578 http://www.insurance.ohio.gov
- Oklahoma 1-800-763-2828 http://www.map.oid.ok.gov
- Oregon 1-800-722-4134 https://shiba.oregon.gov/
- Pennsylvania 1-800-783-7067 http://www.aging.pa.gov
- Puerto Rico 1-877-725-4300 https://agencias.pr.gov/agencias/oppea/educacion/Pages/ship.aspx
- Rhode Island 1-888-884-8721 https://oha.ri.gov/Medicare
- South Carolina 1-800-868-9095 http://www.aging.sc.gov/
- South Dakota 1-800-536-8197 http://www.shiine.net/
- Tennessee 1-877-801-0044 http://tnmedicarehelp.com/
- Texas 1-800-252-9240 https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicare
- US Virgin Islands 1-340-772-7368 https://ltg.gov.vi/departments/vi-ship-medicare/
- Utah 1-800-541-7735 https://daas.utah.gov/seniors/
- Vermont 1-800-642-5119 http://www.vermont4a.org
- Virginia 1-800-552-3402 https://www.vda.virginia.gov/vicap.htm
- Washington 1-800-562-6900 https://www.insurance.wa.gov/about-oic/what-we-do/advocate-for-consumers/shiba/
- West Virginia 1-877-987-4463 http://www.wvship.org
- Wisconsin 1-800-242-1060 https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/benefit-specialists/medicare-counseling.htm
- Wyoming 1-800-856-4398 http://www.wyomingseniors.com/
These are taken from https://www.shiphelp.org/about-medicare/regional-ship-location.
The best ways to get insurance assistance for seniors.
When looking for senior support options, a good place to start is to consult your local senior agency or use the online senior locator service offered by the US Administration on Aging. Either method can lead you to various senior services in your area. The resource directory at the end of this article contains more websites to help you find the best benefits and plans for you[3].
The National Council on Aging is a private group that offers a free service called BenefitsCheckUp. This service can help you find federal and state benefit programs for seniors. After providing some general information about the care recipient, you can see a list of possible benefit plans to explore. These programs can help pay for prescription drugs, heating bills, housing, meal plans, and legal services. You do not need to provide your name, address or social security number to use this service[4].
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Resources for seniors seeking insurance assistance.
A good starting point in any search for senior assistance options is to check with your local Area Agency on Aging or use the online Eldercare Locator provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. Either method can direct you to a host of services for older adults in your area. The directory of resources at the end of this article includes many more sites that can help you find the benefits and programs that are most applicable to you[3].
The National Council on Aging, a private group, has a free service called BenefitsCheckUp. This service can help you find federal and state benefit programs for older adults. After providing some general information about the person who needs care, you can see a list of possible benefit programs to explore. These programs can help pay for prescription drugs, heating bills, housing, meal programs, and legal services. You don’t have to give a name, address, or Social Security number to use this service[4].
Options for seniors when it comes to insurance.
Buying long-term care insurance can be a good choice for younger, relatively healthy people at low risk of needing long-term care in the next 25 years. Costs go up for people who are older, have health problems, or want more benefits. Someone who is in poor health or already receiving end-of-life care services may not qualify for long-term care insurance[4].
When shopping for auto insurance for seniors, it’s essential to explore all of your options. Many older adults make a costly mistake by staying with the same auto insurance company for decades. Shopping around provides mature drivers
the opportunity to find the best policy that meets their needs at a competitive rate[5].
REFERENCES
1.
https://www.valuepenguin.com/best-health-insurance-retirees-seniors Accessed 2023-02-26
2.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/financial-help-for-seniors Accessed 2023-02-26
3.
https://www.greatseniorliving.com/articles/help-for-seniors Accessed 2023-02-26
4.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/paying-long-term-care Accessed 2023-02-26
5.
https://www.seniorliving.org/insurance/ Accessed 2023-02-26