Free Medicare Counseling by State (SHIP)
📞 What is SHIP?
SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Trained counselors help you understand Medicare options, compare plans, and resolve problems — at no cost.
SHIP is funded by the federal government and administered locally. Counselors are volunteers and do not sell insurance.
Find Your State's SHIP Program
Alabama→Alaska→Arizona→Arkansas→California→Colorado→Connecticut→Delaware→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→Washington DC→
What SHIP Counselors Help With
- ✓ Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D
- ✓ Comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans
- ✓ Enrolling in Medicare for the first time
- ✓ Switching plans during Open Enrollment
- ✓ Understanding bills, claims, and Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
- ✓ Applying for Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy)
- ✓ Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)
- ✓ Filing appeals and grievances
- ✓ Reporting Medicare fraud
🆓 SHIP Services Are Free
SHIP counselors are trained volunteers who provide objective advice. They do not work for insurance companies and will never try to sell you anything. All SHIP services are free and confidential.
National SHIP Contact
Medicare Rights Center Helpline
1-800-333-4114
National hotline that can connect you to your local SHIP