About SHIPs
About SHIPs
The nation’s 54 State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers. SHIPs are federally funded by the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There is no cost to consumers to use SHIP services.
SHIP Mission and Vision
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 SHIPs (one in each of the 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 partnership with their local area agencies on aging and other community-based partners. Your SHIP may go by a different name or acronym, such as HICAP, SHICK, SHINE, or VICAP, to name a few.
Help for Yourself or Your Loved Ones with Medicare
SHIPs can provide help on a range of Medicare matters, including:
- Understanding when and how to enroll in Medicare
- Making coverage changes during Medicare’s Annual Election Period (Open Enrollment)
- Getting help with out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare, such as applying for the Medicare Savings Programs and Part D Extra Help
- Learning what Medicare does and doesn’t cover
- Understanding how Medicare works with supplemental policies, retiree coverage, Medicaid, and other insurance
- Making an appeal or complaint
Find Your SHIP
Click on the Find Local Medicare Help
at the top of this page or call 1-877-839-2675.
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