Oh, SHIP. No, this isn’t an article about boating. SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Hint. The A is silent.
The SHIP program provides free unbiased advice about all aspects of Medicare, from the application, to plan management, and even help with grievances and appeals. Basically, the SHIP program can navigate you through the complexities of Medicare at no cost to you. This sounds impressive. What is even more impressive is that the program is run largely through volunteer engagement. So, if you want to learn more about the SHIP program and how to volunteer as a SHIP counselor, keep on reading this article.
The SHIP program is designed with the idea that navigating Medicare is hard. It is meant to lighten your load, so that you can choose and keep the Medicare plan that works best for you, not for your broker or anyone else. Some of the things that the SHIP program offers include one-on-one assistance reviewing prescription drug plans, guidance regarding your potential eligibility for programs that can save you money on Medicare premiums, what Medicare covers (and what it doesn’t), and how Medicare interacts with different types of health insurance. SHIP offices are located throughout the US. They are free of charge and their services are funded by the US Administration for Community Living. Finding your location is easy. Simply call 1-877-839-2675 or visit shiphelp.org/about-medicare/regional-ship-location/ to find your local office. If you live in Adams, Baca, Bent, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Crowley, Denver, Gilpin, Kiowa, Otero, or Prowers counties, Benefits in Action is your local SHIP office. For those of you in those counties, simply call 720-221-8354 to skip the middleman and schedule an appointment with one of our expert SHIP counselors.
Like I said earlier, this program runs almost entirely on volunteer support. This volunteer support is crucial to making sure that folks get the advice they need about Medicare, especially during the busy Open Enrollment Season.
As a reminder, Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Benefits in Action is currently recruiting volunteer SHIP counselors to help with Open Enrollment and beyond. It is meaningful work that will help you change people’s lives. So, what is it like to be a volunteer? It’s great. Being a volunteer involves developing your strengths to make a positive difference in your community. While it does involve some extensive training due to the complexities of Medicare, it feels good to help others. Knowing that you are making a positive contribution to someone’s life provides meaning and purpose that may otherwise be elusive. And if you don’t believe us, take it from our current SHIP volunteer, Jeff Flax. From Jeff: "For me, it is very satisfying to feel like I am making a difference in people’s lives. I find that people are phenomenally appreciative, and it fuels my interest and desires to help. It is challenging and interesting. I find the people to be very interesting and find it rewarding to know a bit more about them and their lives. BIA has provided great support for my work. Natascha from BIA is a great resource, and our monthly SHIP meetings are very helpful."
Thanks again for reading this article. If you need help with Medicare or are looking to volunteer for the SHIP program, please consider calling Benefits in Action or emailing us at volunteers@benefitsinaction.org. Our SHIP counselors can provide you with the knowledge you need to make Medicare work for you. You also might be able to really make a positive change in someone’s life as a SHIP volunteer. Until next time, stay healthy and stay safe.
From the desk of Eric Gonzalez, Manager of Financial Programs
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