Insurance Assistance

About SHIP

SHIP is a national program that offers one-on-one assistance, counseling, and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to help them make informed decisions about their care and benefits. SHIP services support people with limited incomes, Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 with disabilities, and individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

The SHIP mission is to empower, educate, and assist Medicare-eligible individuals through objective outreach, counseling, and training.

The SHIP vision is to be the known and trusted community resource for Medicare information.

There are 54 SHIP grantees (one in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). SHIP services are delivered by State Units on Aging or State Departments of Insurance in partnerships with their local Area Agencies on Aging and other community- based partners.

History

SHIPs were created under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. This section of the law authorized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make grants to states to establish and maintain health insurance advisory service programs for Medicare beneficiaries. Grant funds were made available to support information, counseling, and assistance activities related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance options such as: Medicare Supplement insurance, long-term care insurance, and managed care options. Authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, SHIP was transferred from CMS to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2014. This transfer reflects the existing formal and informal collaborations between the SHIP programs and the networks that ACL serves.

Funding

SHIP state funding is determined annually by formula based on several factors, including Medicare Population.

Many SHIPs contract with local community-based partners to provide SHIP services.

What Can the SHIP Do For You?

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is your trusted source for information about Medicare, other Medicare related health insurance, and low-income resources. SHIP counselors and volunteers are committed to helping you make informed choices regarding your insurance benefits. Counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not attempt to sell you insurance; and all counseling records are strictly confidential.

1. SHIP can help you understand your Medicare benefits.
2. SHIP can help you determine which Medicare prescription drug plan fits your needs.
3. SHIP can answer your questions about Medigap, long-term care insurance policies, and other health insurance programs for seniors.
4. SHIP can assist Medicare beneficiaries in specific areas such as home health benefits, Medicare claims and appeals, and other similar issues.
5. SHIP can give you details about benefits available in your area and refer you to other helpful programs.

SHIP Public Education counselors are available for presentations on a variety of health insurance topics. SHIP counselors provide education, counseling, and information concerning Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Medicare Savings Programs, Prescription Drugs, Plan Comparisons, and low-income assistance programs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Anyone who has Medicare should participate in the Medicare Open Enrollment. Open enrollment for all Medicare beneficiaries is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. During this period, anyone can join, switch, or drop a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan. The change takes effect January 1.

Every plan has a different list of drugs that it covers and the plans change their premiums and coverage each year. Different pharmacies accept different plans. Co-payments, premiums, deductibles and whether coverage is available in the coverage gap vary widely among plans.

Seniors can use the Medicare plan comparison tool online at the Medicare website http://www.medicare.gov/ or you can call Medicare at (800) 633-4227.

The local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides this service at no cost. Call (334) 793-6843 to make an appointment for assistance.

More information about Medicare Part D can be found here.