SHIP Counselors: Free Medicare Help, and When a Paid Bill Review Adds Value

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) gives free, unbiased, one-on-one Medicare counseling to people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers. SHIP counselors help with choosing plans, understanding costs and coverage, applying for programs like Extra Help, and filing complaints or appeals, so they're a good first call for Medicare questions (find yours at shiphelp.org). Some families also use a paid monthly bill review to go through every bill on a regular schedule.

What is a SHIP?

The Administration for Community Living (ACL), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, manages the SHIP program. ACL describes SHIP as 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.

According to ACL:

• There are 54 SHIP grantees: one in each state, plus 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, working with local area agencies on aging and other community partners.
• SHIP team members, including staff and trained volunteers, are trained and certified to help people with Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap.
• SHIP's mission includes "objective outreach, counseling, and training."

Many states give their SHIP a local name. Shiphelp.org will point you to the right one.

What can a SHIP counselor help me with?

Medicare.gov lists free health insurance counseling from SHIP for help to:

• Choose a plan.
• Review coverage.
• Understand costs.
• Apply for Extra Help.
• File a complaint or an appeal.
• Make informed Medicare decisions.

ACL adds that SHIP helps people with limited income apply for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, and Extra Help, and educates people about coverage rules, written notices and forms, and appeal rights.

SHIP is a good place to go when:

• It's open enrollment and you're comparing plans.
• You're turning 65 and deciding between Original Medicare with Medigap and Medicare Advantage.
• You want to know if you qualify for help with costs.
• You got a denial and want to understand your appeal options.
• You're considering a private contract with a doctor who opted out of Medicare. Medicare.gov suggests contacting your SHIP first.

How do I reach my SHIP?

• Online: Go to shiphelp.org and choose your state.
• By phone: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for your SHIP's number.

Counseling may be by phone, in person, or at community events. Because many SHIP counselors are volunteers, it can help to call ahead, especially during open enrollment in the fall.

What should I bring to a SHIP appointment?

• Your Medicare card and any plan cards.
• A list of your medications, with doses.
• Your doctors' names.
• Recent Medicare Summary Notices or Explanations of Benefits.
• Any bills, denial letters, or notices you have questions about.
• Your questions, written down.

If you're helping a parent, bring them along or have them on the phone so the counselor can talk with both of you.

Is SHIP connected to the Senior Medicare Patrol?

Often, yes. ACL says many SHIP grantees also run Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) services, which help people with Medicare prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. If something on a statement looks like fraud, your SHIP or SMP can help.

When might a paid monthly bill review add value?

SHIP and a bill review service do different jobs, and some families use both.

A monthly bill review service can make sense if:

• Bills arrive in a steady stream. Someone with several doctors, therapy, or ongoing treatment may get many bills and notices a month. A regular, scheduled review can help keep them from piling up.
• You want every line checked against your notices. A bill review service matches each bill to the Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits (EOB) and flags duplicates, missing payments, or amounts above what Medicare allows.
• You're managing a parent's bills from a distance. Snapping a photo and getting back a written summary can fit into a busy week.
• You want a script for each call. A written "what to say" for each issue can make phone calls easier.

For plan choice, program applications, and Medicare guidance, SHIP is the place to go, and its help is free.

How do Bill Review Coach and SHIP work together?

Bill Review Coach is a monthly medical bill review service for seniors and their families. Members snap a photo of a bill or Medicare statement and get back a plain-English summary of possible errors, programs worth asking about, and what to say on the phone. Members make their own calls and write their own emails. Bill Review Coach does not contact anyone or negotiate for them.

When a review turns up a question about plan choice, eligibility for help with costs, or appeal strategy, we point members to their local SHIP.

Frequently asked questions

Is SHIP counseling really free?

Yes. SHIP is a federally funded program, and Medicare.gov describes it as free health insurance counseling.

Do SHIP counselors sell insurance?

ACL describes SHIP's mission as objective counseling. As general guidance, if anyone pressures you to buy a policy during what's presented as SHIP counseling, contact your state SHIP office.

Can SHIP help with a bill?

SHIP can help you understand coverage, costs, notices, and appeals. For a specific billing error, they can also explain your options.

How do I find my SHIP?

Visit shiphelp.org and choose your state, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Want a monthly bill check to go with your SHIP help?

Bill Review Coach is a monthly medical bill review service for seniors and their families. Each month, snap photos of your bills and Medicare notices, and you'll get a plain-English summary of anything to check and what to say on the phone. You make the calls and write the emails; we help you know what to say.