Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in California. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Free Medicare counseling
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP): free Medicare counseling in California
California's Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, called HICAP, gives free, confidential one-on-one Medicare counseling. The California Department of Aging runs it through local offices.
Call the state line or pick your county online to find the office near you.
How to apply in California
- By phone
- 1-800-434-0222
- In person
- Pick your county on the Find Services in My County page of the California Department of Aging website to find your local HICAP office. Or call the number above.
Who may qualify in California
| Who may get help | Anyone with Medicare, and their family and caregivers |
|---|
Good to know
- There is no cost to use SHIP services.
- The SHIP National Technical Assistance Center lists this program as the state's SHIP.
Sources: California Department of Aging (source 1), SHIP National Technical Assistance Center (source 4)
Free help
Free help with this in California
California Department of Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in California
Free Medicare counseling in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- California Department of Aging, Medicare Counseling (HICAP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Administration for Community Living, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, About SHIPs. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- SHIP National Technical Assistance Center, California SHIP. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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