Many people have questions about Medicare and don’t know where to start. You may have questions like:

Is there someone who can explain Medicare to me?

What are my health plan options?

How do I enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan?

Is there a way to get help paying for a plan?

What do I do if I am confused about a claim?

The good news is that there is a way to get answers to your questions, right in your community. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs, or SHIP, is a state-based program that offers free, local, one-on-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. Help is just a phone call away! “My local SHIP provided helpful information and I was able to make the right decision for my mother,” said one caregiver. In 2008, SHIPs helped approximately 5.2 million families like this one.

Trained counselors help with a wide range of Medicare, Medicaid and Medigap matters. In addition to answering the questions mentioned above, a counselor can help you figure out long-term care insurance; resolve claims and billing problems; apply for the Medicare program that helps pay your prescription drug costs; and understand what to do if you suspect Medicare fraud or abuse.

To find the contact information of your local SHIP, visit medicare, click on Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Web sites, choose Organization and select SHIP from the drop-down box; refer to the Medicare & You handbook; or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Your local SHIP may go by a different name. It doesn’t matter; they are still there to help you with your Medicare questions.

This information prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.