Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in New York. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Free Medicare counseling
Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP): free Medicare counseling in New York
New York's Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program, called HIICAP, gives free, accurate and objective Medicare help.
The New York State Office for the Aging runs it through its 59 local Area Agencies on Aging. Call the toll-free number and you are sent to the HIICAP office for your county.
How to apply in New York
- By phone
- 1-800-701-0501
- In person
- Your call is sent to the HIICAP office in your county, usually at your local Area Agency on Aging. You can make free, confidential appointments with HIICAP staff and volunteer counselors.
Who may qualify in New York
| 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: New York State Office for the Aging (source 1), SHIP National Technical Assistance Center (source 4)
Free help
Free help with this in New York
New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in New York
Free Medicare counseling in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- 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
- 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
- New York State Office for the Aging, Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance (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, New York SHIP. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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