Free Assistance for Medicare Beneficiaries

Answer: SHIP is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which provides local counseling for Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and their caregivers at no cost.

A counselor’s role is threefold. First, we help people who are new to Medicare understand the benefits that are available to them – that is free assistance for Medicare beneficiaries. Second, during the annual open-enrollment period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, we assist people in reviewing their current Medicare coverage and drug plan to determine whether they want to remain on the plan they have or switch to a different one. If they decide to enroll in a different plan, we can facilitate the switch.

And the third part is helping people troubleshoot billing and coverage issues. If a situation is more complicated than a volunteer counselor can handle, a higher-level analyst at the SHIP office will work with the client.

Q: How did you get involved with SHIP?

A: I was the director of programs and services for older adults at a community center before I retired, and I was also on a committee that was trying to determine whether we should bring Medicare counseling services to our county. At the time, SHIP wasn’t available.

Around the same time, my mother became ill, and I had to start managing her financial and health affairs, including Medicare. I was overwhelmed, frustrated and bewildered. I gradually worked my way through it, and then I found myself informally assisting other people to understand what they were dealing with when their parents needed help. I decided I was ready to do something else with my life and go through the training to become a volunteer counselor.

Q: What are the most common misconceptions that Medicare beneficiaries have about their coverage?

A: People think they must enroll in Medicare at age 65 or be penalized, which may not be true if you’re still working and have health insurance through your job, or if you’re insured through your spouse’s job. Also, a lot of people think Medicare is free, but it’s not. This year, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $174.70 a month. And once you have Medicare, there are copayments and deductibles.

One of the most important things we point out is that when you first go on Medicare Part B, you have a one-time guaranteed chance to get Medicare supplemental insurance without being asked about your health. That window lasts for six months. After that, providers of Medicare supplemental insurance may ask you questions about your health and deny you coverage or charge you more for insurance if you have a health condition. It’s important that people new to Medicare know how to navigate that.

Q: How has Medicare changed over the years?

A: When I started doing this in the 1990s, there were no Medicare drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans. I could sit somebody down and have them understand Medicare in about 40 minutes. Now, there’s a lot more to explain as I help people evaluate the various plans so they can make a rational decision.

Find more information on the State Health Insurance Assistance Program and locate your local SHIP here

Emma Patch is a senior writer at Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine. For more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.

©2024 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Read more helpful Medicare articles from Seniors Guide:

Medicare Advantage Options Are Shrinking