Medicare and health costs
SHIP free Medicare counseling
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that gives free, one-on-one help with Medicare. Trained counselors can help you compare plans, understand costs, apply for programs that lower them, and file a complaint or appeal. SHIPs aren't connected to any insurance company or health plan.
Rules in your state
Your state runs SHIP free Medicare counseling, so the name, the limits and how to apply depend on where you live.
Who may qualify
| Who can get help | People with Medicare, and their families and caregivers |
|---|
What you may get
| Cost | Free |
|---|---|
| Ties to insurers | None. SHIPs aren't connected to any insurance company or health plan |
| What counselors help with | Choosing a plan, reviewing coverage, understanding costs, and filing a complaint or an appeal Source: Medicare.gov (source 3) |
| Programs they can help you apply for | Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help |
| How you get help | One-on-one, in person or by phone, plus group talks and enrollment events |
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Medicare Open Enrollment, a busy time to book help | October 15 to December 7 each year |
|---|
Good to know
- There are 54 SHIPs, one in each state, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with more than 2,200 local sites.
- Find your local SHIP's phone number at shiphelp.org, or in the back of the Medicare & You handbook.
- In some states the SHIP has its own name, such as CHOICES in Connecticut.
- Counselors are trained and certified, and many are volunteers.
- Many SHIPs also run the Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps people prevent, spot and report Medicare fraud, errors and abuse.
- On shiphelp.org, pick your state to reach your local SHIP.
Sources: Administration for Community Living (source 1), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (source 2), SHIP National Technical Assistance Center (source 4)
What people get wrong
MythA Medicare counselor is really trying to sell me a plan.
Not true. SHIPs aren't connected to any insurance company or health plan, and their counseling is free.
MythSHIP only helps people pick a plan.
Not true. Counselors also help people with limited income apply for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, and explain appeal rights.
SHIP free Medicare counseling in every state
| State | What it's called |
|---|---|
| Alabama | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Alaska | Medicare Information Office (SHIP) |
| Arizona | Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Arkansas | Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) |
| California | Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) |
| Colorado | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Connecticut | CHOICES (SHIP) |
| Delaware | Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) |
| District of Columbia | DC State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Florida | Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) |
| Georgia | Georgia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Hawaii | Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Idaho | Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) |
| Illinois | Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) |
| Indiana | Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Iowa | Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) |
| Kansas | Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) |
| Kentucky | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Louisiana | Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) |
| Maine | Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Maryland | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Massachusetts | Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE) |
| Michigan | Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Aging Pathways (SHIP) |
| Mississippi | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Missouri | Missouri SHIP |
| Montana | Montana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Nebraska | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Nevada | Nevada Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) |
| New Hampshire | NH SHIP (ServiceLink Resource Center) |
| New Jersey | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| New Mexico | New Mexico ADRC State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| New York | Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) |
| North Carolina | Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) |
| North Dakota | North Dakota SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) |
| Ohio | Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) |
| Oklahoma | Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) |
| Oregon | Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) |
| Rhode Island | Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) |
| South Carolina | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| South Dakota | Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHIINE) |
| Tennessee | Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP) |
| Texas | Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) |
| Utah | Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) |
| Vermont | State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) |
| Virginia | Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) |
| Washington | Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) |
| West Virginia | West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (WV SHIP) |
| Wisconsin | State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) |
| Wyoming | Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program (WSHIIP) |
Sources
- Administration for Community Living, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare & You 2027 (the official Medicare handbook) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Medicare.gov, Contact Medicare (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, Get Medicare Help from Your Local SHIP Program. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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