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Find a Free SHIP Counselor in Your State
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP. Its counselors answer Medicare questions for free. Finding yours takes one step: pick your state.
The short answer
Every state and Washington, D.C. runs a SHIP program — free Medicare counseling from trained volunteers and staff who sell nothing and earn nothing from your choices. The counselors are funded by the federal Administration for Community Living, not by insurance companies. Select your state below for your program's name and phone number, or call the national SHIP line at 1-877-839-2675.
How to use SHIP counseling
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Find your state's SHIP program
Use the finder on this page to look up your state's program name, phone number, and website.
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Call to schedule
Some offices take walk-ins and others require an appointment — the phone line will tell you. September–December is the busiest season, so calling in January–August often gets a faster response.
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Gather your information
Have your Medicare card, any current insurance cards, a list of your medications, and your preferred doctors ready before the appointment.
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Ask your real questions
SHIP counselors help with enrollment decisions, plan comparisons at Medicare.gov Plan Finder, appeals, Extra Help and Medicare Savings Program applications, and complaints. There is no sales pitch.
What SHIP is — and who pays for it
SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Every state and Washington, D.C. runs one, often under its own local name. California calls its program HICAP. Florida and Massachusetts both use the name SHINE. North Carolina uses SHIIP.
The money comes from the federal Administration for Community Living, in partnership with each state government. That funding structure is the whole point. Counselors are paid by public grants, not by commissions. No insurance company pays them anything, so they have no financial reason to steer you toward one plan or another.
The name changes by state, but the service is the same everywhere. You get one-on-one help, by phone or in person, from someone trained on Medicare's rules. Sessions are confidential. Nothing you share is used to sell you anything, because there is nothing for sale.
This site refers people to SHIP constantly, and we earn nothing when you call. It is simply the best free Medicare resource in the country that most people have never heard of.
Who SHIP serves
SHIP is for anyone dealing with Medicare, at any stage. That includes people turning 65 and facing their first enrollment window. It includes people already enrolled who want to review their coverage. It also includes people under 65 who have Medicare through disability.
Family members and caregivers can use SHIP too. If you are an adult child helping a parent sort out their coverage, you can call on their behalf or join the appointment. There is no income limit, no membership requirement, and no residency paperwork beyond living in the state.
People with both Medicare and Medicaid — called dual-eligible — get particular value from SHIP. Coordination between the two programs is confusing, and SHIP counselors are trained on exactly that.
SHIP is also worth a call before you are eligible. If you are 63 or 64 and still working, a counselor can explain how your employer coverage interacts with Medicare. Knowing the rules two years early is how people avoid late-enrollment penalties that otherwise last for life.
What SHIP counselors can and cannot help with
SHIP counselors are trained across the full range of Medicare questions. They can help with:
- Eligibility, enrollment windows, and late-enrollment penalties
- Comparing Original Medicare with Medicare Advantage, using Medicare.gov Plan Finder
- Understanding Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage and pricing rules in your state
- Applying for Extra Help with Part D prescription costs
- Applying for Medicare Savings Programs that pay premiums and other out-of-pocket costs
- Appeals, complaints, and reporting suspected Medicare fraud
There are things SHIP counselors do not do. They do not sell insurance, and they will not recommend a specific insurance company. They cannot give legal advice or help with non-Medicare insurance, like homeowners or auto coverage. For legal questions about Medicaid planning or long-term care, the right referral is an elder law attorney through naela.org.
One more boundary worth knowing: a counselor will not tell you which plan to pick. They will show you the trade-offs and let you decide. If you want someone to make the call for you, that is not what SHIP is for — and honestly, no one should make that call but you.
How to prepare for your SHIP call
A little preparation makes a 30-minute session go much further. Before you call or visit, gather your Medicare card and any other insurance cards, including retiree or employer coverage. Write out your medication list with dosages, and note your preferred doctors and hospitals.
Write your questions down in advance, starting with the most important one. If you are calling about a denial or an appeal, have the letters from Medicare or your plan in front of you. If you need counseling in another language, ask about it when you book — many programs offer translation.
Most SHIP help happens by phone, but many local offices also offer in-person appointments, and some offer video calls. If phone calls are hard for you, say so when you book. If a family member is helping you, they can join the call — three-way conversations with an adult child on the line are routine for SHIP counselors.
Expect a session to run 30 to 60 minutes for a plan review. Simple questions — a date, a form, a penalty rule — often get answered in one short call.
What if your state's SHIP line is busy during Annual Enrollment?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 each year, and it is SHIP's busiest stretch. Wait times grow, and appointment calendars fill up. If you hit a busy line, you have options.
Call the national SHIP line at 1-877-839-2675, which routes you to your state program and can suggest alternate local offices. Try your state SHIP website — many take appointment requests online. Early-morning calls early in the week tend to connect faster.
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which operates around the clock during enrollment season. And if your question is about a plan change you want effective January 1, starting the conversation in October rather than late November gives you and the counselor room to work without deadline pressure.
Frequently asked questions about SHIP
Nothing. SHIP counseling is free in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The program is funded by federal Administration for Community Living grants and state funds, not by insurance companies. Counselors earn nothing from your choices, and there is never a charge for an appointment, a phone call, or follow-up help.
Yes. SHIP counselors are trained to use Medicare.gov Plan Finder, the official tool for comparing the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your county. A counselor can walk through the comparison with you based on your doctors, medications, and budget. They cannot enroll you in a plan directly, but they can show you exactly what is available and what each option covers.
Bring your Medicare card, any current insurance cards (including retiree or employer coverage), a list of your medications with dosages, and a list of your preferred doctors and hospitals. If you are calling about an appeal, bring any letters you have received from Medicare or your plan.
Yes. SHIP counselors routinely help people apply for Extra Help, which lowers Part D prescription costs, and for Medicare Savings Programs, which pay some or all of your Medicare premiums and the amounts you pay out of pocket. Both programs are based on income and resources. A counselor can check whether you qualify and help you complete the application.
January through August is typically the least busy time for SHIP programs. September through December — especially during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7 — is the busiest season. If your question is not urgent, calling in the first half of the year usually means shorter waits.
No. You can enroll in Medicare yourself at ssa.gov or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, and you can compare plan options at Medicare.gov. A SHIP counselor can walk you through both steps for free. Licensed agents are one way to get enrollment help, not a requirement.
Yes. SHIP counselors regularly work with family members and caregivers who are helping someone navigate Medicare. You can attend an appointment together or, in many cases, call on their behalf. You may need to confirm that you are authorized to discuss their Medicare information.
Many SHIP programs offer counseling in multiple languages or have access to translation services. Ask about language options when you call. Medicare also publishes materials in multiple languages at Medicare.gov.