SHIIP - Senior Health Insurance Information Program - can help you find answers to important questions you have on Medicare, Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare HMO’s and PPO’s, Medicaid long term care insurance, and other health insurance issues such as prescription drug assistance. Created in 1993 by the State of Louisiana Department of Insurance , SHIIP has helped thousands of people sort through confusing health insurance information.
We'll help you answer questions such as:

• I’m retiring. What kind of health insurance do I need?
• I can’t make sense of my Medicare statements and medical bills. What do I do next?
• I’ve been considering long term care insurance, but is it a good option for me?
• Do I need a Medicare supplement policy?
• How can I help my parents with health insurance?

We’re unique in that we’re an information source and advocate. We don’t sell insurance or recommend policies, agents or specific companies. This free, confidential service from the State of Louisiana objective information about health insurance options. The good news is that SHIIP is available locally. Trained SHIIP volunteers are also available in many parishes throughout Louisiana. Contact your local Council on Aging, Area Agency on Aging or the State Department of Insurance for the nearest SHIIP program.

If you have friends or relatives in other states who are on Medicare and have health insurance questions give SHIIP a call. We can give you the telephone number for senior health insurance counseling programs nationwide.

SHIIP volunteers and staff are looking forward to providing you with the best information available. You can rely on SHIIP for "straight talk," so call 1-800-635-1437 today or e-mail us at ship@jcoa.net

SHIIP publications are available through the Louisiana Department of Insurance:
http://www.ldi.la.gov/whats_new/shiip_requests_for_publ.htm

Jefferson Council on Aging’s SHIIP Program:

Jefferson Council on Aging’s SHIIP program began in 1995. The program is funded through local discretionary funding and a small grant from the Louisiana Department of Insurance. It provides counseling and assistance to seniors who need health insurance information.

SHIIP staff and volunteer counselors—trained by the Louisiana Department of Insurance—provide counseling, free of charge, on a variety of topics regarding health insurance, including:

• Medicare
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Assistance with Claims
• Medicare Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO’s)
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance
• Medicare Appeals Process
  Medicaid
• Comprehensive major medicals, individual HMOs under age 65

SHIIP Counselors offer advisory information only and do not make decisions for clients. All information shared with a counselor is kept strictly confidential. The counselor will at no time attempt to sell the client anything. Information is given to clients to assist them in making informed decisions. SHIIP counselors never charge for this service.

SHIIP publications are available through the SHIIP program at Jefferson Council on Aging.

SHIIP DOES NOT:

• Provide legal assistance.
• Make decisions for you.
• Promote specific products or offer policies for sale.