What is SHIP and is the counseling really free?
SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a federally funded program in every state that gives people with Medicare free one-on-one counseling from trained counselors who are not allowed to sell insurance or earn a commission, so the help genuinely costs you nothing.
What this means
- A SHIP counselor can compare drug plans using your exact medicine list, explain a denial, help you apply for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, and help you appeal.
- SHIP counselors are prohibited from steering you to any particular insurance company.
- Some states use a different local name for the same program, such as HICAP or SHINE.
- Counseling is available by phone, and in many places in person at a senior center or library.
What to do first
- Find your state's SHIP office through the national SHIP directory and call for an appointment.
- Bring your Medicare card, your list of medicines with doses, and your most recent plan letter.
- Ask the counselor to check whether you may qualify for Extra Help and a Medicare Savings Program in the same visit.
SHIP: Free, Unbiased Medicare Counseling
A trained local counselor who compares your Medicare options with you and sells nothing.
What you'll need
- Your current plan information
- A list of your medications and their doses
- Medicare card
Deadlines and timing
- Appointments fill up quickly during Medicare open enrollment from October 15 to December 7. Call in September if you can.
- If someone offers Medicare help and then tries to sell you a plan, they are not a SHIP counselor.
Where to go
- SHIP: Free, Unbiased Medicare Counseling: https://www.shiphelp.org/SHIPs/
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward · Last verified August 25, 2026
Sources
- State Health Insurance Assistance Programs · SHIP National Technical Assistance Center
Every program on this site is free to apply for. Anyone who asks you to pay to apply, or to “unlock” a government benefit, is a scam — hang up and call Senior Medicare Patrol or 211.
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