10/18/2026
📞 Every state, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, runs a free Medicare counseling program called SHIP, and the number for yours is on this card.
Medicare open enrollment started today and runs through December 7. It's the main window each year to join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, with the change taking effect January 1.
Much of the help offered this time of year comes from someone with a stake in your choice. An agent or broker is paid by the insurance company whose plan you enroll in.
SHIP counselors are funded through a federal grant from the Administration for Community Living. The law that created the program requires that its staff, volunteers included, have no conflict of interest, and Medicare describes SHIPs as unconnected to any insurance company or health plan.
A counselor can help you make plan changes during open enrollment, apply for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program, sort out how Medicare works with retiree coverage or Medicaid, and file an appeal or complaint.
The program's name changes from state to state, which is part of why so many people never find it. Florida and Massachusetts call it SHINE. Idaho, Oregon, and Washington call it SHIBA. California calls it HICAP, and Michigan calls it MMAP. The name your state uses sits right next to it on the card.
Bring your Medicare card, your prescription list with doses, and the name of your current plan. Drug plans differ on which medicines they cover, so the list is what makes the comparison worth doing.
Georgia's line asks you to press 4. Kentucky's asks you to press 2.
If you're helping a parent who lives in another state, call the program where they live, because the plans available to them depend on their address.
P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.
R.J. Weiss, CFP®
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.
