- Feb 7, 2023
- 3 min read

Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)

Updated: Feb 8, 2023

WHAT IS SHIP?

The Senior Health Insurance Program is a national program of the Administration

for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SHIP is supported through state and federal partnerships that are not reimbursed by private health insurance plans or entities. SHIP is not paid per enrollment it is federally funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) .

HISTORY OF SHIP PROGRAM:

SHIPs were created under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. This section of the law authorized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make grants to states to establish and maintain health insurance advisory service programs for Medicare beneficiaries. Grant funds were made available to support information, counseling, and assistance activities related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurance options such as: Medicare Supplement insurance, long-term care insurance, and managed care options. Authorized in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, SHIP was transferred from CMS to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2014. This transfer reflects the existing formal and informal collaborations between the SHIP programs and the networks that ACL serves.

It works with state offices, local agencies, grantees and community providers by establishing a network of counselors and volunteers. These volunteers assist individuals in-person, by phone, or conducting group presentations using media sources to provide free impartial information, counseling and education regarding Medicare health insurance benefits & options. This enables individuals to make informed decisions regarding their Medicare health insurance options. (1) SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company. SHIP Counselors Do not sell or solicit any type of insurance.

There are 54 SHIP grantees (one in all 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 partnerships with their local Area Agencies on Aging and other community-based partners. Nationally, SHIP oversees a network of more than 2,200 local sites and over 12,500 team members, including staff, in-kind professionals, and volunteers. In addition to SHIP services, many grantees provide Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program services, which help Medicare beneficiaries protect, detect, and report healthcare fraud, errors, and abuse.

STATE NAMES

Most states kept the SHIP name.

Others another name such as:

· Florida – SHINE - Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders

· Kansas – SHICK - Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas

· Michigan – MMAP – Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistive Program

· North Carolina -SHIIP - Medicare & Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program

· Ohio – OSHIP – Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program

SHIP VOLUNTEERS:

It offers a chance to give something back to their community and/or it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. SHIPs offer a variety of local volunteer roles. To learn more about becoming a volunteer for SHIP, go to https://www.shiphelp.org/volunteer and select your state under “Find Local Medicare Help" and call today. (2)

WHAT DOES SHIP DO?

· Provides educational materials and brochures.

· Educates beneficiaries so they can understand Medicare, file claims, and appeal Medicare decisions.

· Informs consumers of their rights as a Medicare beneficiary or health insurance policyholder.

· Shows consumers how to evaluate the various Medicare Part D (prescription drugs), Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Long-Term Care Insurance policies currently available.

· Refers clients to appropriate agencies where they can get help with other needs.

· Provides speakers to make presentations to groups. (3)

References:

(1) https://acl.gov/programs/connecting-people-services/state-health-insurance-assistance-program-ship

(2) https://www.shiphelp.org/volunteer

https://www.shiphelp.org/application/files/3216/3604/7820/SHIP_Volunteer_Flyer_Final.pdf

(3) https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2022-06/SHIP_OverviewFlyer_Final.pdf

CONTACT INFORMATION

STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

SHIP National Technical Assistance Center

Address:

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging