SHIP/SMP

Each of the 13 Area Agencies on Aging within the State have designated a SHIP coordinator. This coordinator recruits and trains volunteers that will in turn, provide guidance to senior citizens within their community, allowing them to make sound decisions about their health insurance needs. Both the coordinator and volunteers counsel individuals or their caregivers on a one-on-one basis via telephone, site visits and home visits.

SHIP Counselors are committed volunteers, and many of them face the same issues you do as Medicare Beneficiaries.  They are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not attempt to sell you insurance.  They will, however, give you the necessary information you need to make informed choices for yourself.  All counseling records are confidential.

SHIP counselors are available for presentations on a variety of health insurance topics.

SHIP is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is administered by the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the Area Agencies on Aging.

Another new program will work simultaneously with SHIP. It is known as the Senior Medicare Patrol Project or SMP. The purpose of this program is to assist seniors in identifying and reporting suspected Medicare and Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse. Specifically, seniors will learn to recognize incorrect or improper billings, as well as fraudulent or inflated claims. Again, both the coordinator and volunteers work together in educating the public.

The next enrollment period will be November 15, 2009 through December 31, 2009.  In general, you can join or change drug plans once a year between November 15 and December 21.

For additional information call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the age line 1-800-243-5463.  You can visit the website at www.medicare.gov and view the plan finder for prescription drug coverage.
 

Department Contact:
Linda Newkirk, 256-389-0538