How to Find SHIP or SHIBA: Free, Unbiased Medicare Counseling

How to Find SHIP or SHIBA Help With Medicare

Key takeaways

• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) offer local, in-depth, unbiased Medicare counseling for people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers—at no charge.[1]
• SHIPs are federally funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL).[1]
• Your state’s program may use another name—examples on shiphelp.org include HICAP, SHIIP, SHINE, or VICAP; Washington’s program is called SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors).[1][2]
• Start with the online SHIP Locator at shiphelp.org / state list at shiphelp.org/ships/.[1][3]
• SHIP counselors are not insurance sales agents.[1]

What SHIP counselors can help with

According to shiphelp.org’s “What We Do” page, SHIPs can help you:[1]

• Review health or prescription drug options during Open Enrollment
• Learn about programs that may lower out-of-pocket costs
• Understand when to enroll and how to avoid late-enrollment penalties
• Clarify what Medicare does and does not cover
• Sort out who pays first when you have Medicare plus other insurance (supplemental, retiree, Medicaid, and others)
• Get help with appeals and your rights under Medicare

For plan windows and deadlines, see Medicare enrollment and the fall checklist Medicare Open Enrollment. For drug plans, see Medicare Part D. For plan-type tradeoffs, see Advantage vs. Medigap. For premiums, see Part B premium.

Step-by-step: find your local program

1. Open https://www.shiphelp.org/ or the state directory **https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/**.[1][3]
2. Choose your state or territory (all 50 states, DC, and several territories are listed).[3]
3. Use the Find Your SHIP / local contact details on that state page. Hours and phone numbers are state-specific—use the number shown for your state, not a number copied from a blog.[2][3]
4. Say you want Medicare counseling (not a sales call). Ask whether appointments are phone, video, or in person.
5. Prepare before the call:
   • Medicare card / Member ID
   • List of doctors and pharmacy
   • Full medicine list (or

/ printed list)

• Your Annual Notice of Change letter if you have one
• Questions about Extra Help, Medicaid, or Medicare Savings Programs — also try

Why you may hear “SHIBA,” “HICAP,” or other names

SHIP is the national program name. States brand local counseling differently. shiphelp.org notes names such as HICAP, SHIIP, SHINE, or VICAP.[1]

Washington example (verified on shiphelp.org): the Washington page titles the program Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) and lists state contact details on that page.[2] If you live in Washington, use the SHIBA contacts shown on the official shiphelp.org Washington listing—not a random web result.

SHIP vs. other phone lines

Learn scam warning signs: Medicare scams.

FAQ

Does SHIP cost money?
shiphelp.org states there is no charge to consumers for this assistance.[1]

Can SHIP recommend the “best” Advantage plan?
Counselors help you compare costs, coverage, and networks for your situation. They are funded to provide unbiased help, not to sell a plan.[1]

Is SHIBA only in Washington?
SHIBA is Washington’s SHIP name on shiphelp.org.[2] Other states use other names; always look up your state.

What if I need help outside Open Enrollment?
SHIPs help with enrollment timing, coverage questions, coordination of benefits, appeals, and more year-round—not only in the fall.[1]

• Related: Medicare enrollment
• Related: Medicare Part D
• Related: Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap
• Related: Medicare Part B premium
• Related: Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
• Related: Medicaid eligibility

Learn step by step:

Sources

1. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center. Get help with Medicare enrollment / What We Do. https://www.shiphelp.org/what-we-do/. Accessed October 30, 2026. (Full page opened.)
2. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center. Washington | Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA). https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/washington/. Accessed October 30, 2026. (Full page opened; SHIBA name verified.)
3. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center. SHIPs (state directory). https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/. Accessed October 30, 2026. (Full page opened.)
4. SHIP National Technical Assistance Center. Get Medicare Help from Your Local SHIP Program (home). https://www.shiphelp.org/. Accessed October 30, 2026. (Full page opened.)

Disclaimer

This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. We do not sell, endorse, or recommend any insurance plan or company. Talk to a SHIP counselor or 1-800-MEDICARE about your situation. In an emergency, call 911.

Attribution

Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: adapted and rewritten for the U.S. context (not a direct translation), and re-sourced to shiphelp.org / ACL-funded SHIP program materials. China’s insurance chapters were not used.