State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Help Understanding Medicare
Medicare isn't a one-size-fits-all program. Maryland’s SHIP program provides free, unbiased, and expert guidance to navigate Medicare with confidence. Whether you are new to Medicare or looking to change your current coverage, certified counselors provide one-on-one assistance tailored to your needs.
- Unbiased Advice: SHIP doesn't sell insurance. SHIP works for you.
- Cost Savings: SHIP can help identify programs you may qualify for like Extra Help and the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program (SPDAP) to put money back in your pocket.
- Local Experts: With offices throughout Maryland, SHIP understands the plans available in your area.
Revised SHIP Accordian
Maryland's 19 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offices provide one-on-one assistance and community education on ways to navigate Medicare, learn about savings programs, and ways to prevent, detect, and report fraud. Calls are free and confidential. Connect with your local SHIP office to get support from trained SHIP, SMP, and Medicare Savings (MIPPA) counselors.
- Allegany County: 301-783-1710
- Anne Arundel County: 410-222-4077
- Baltimore City: 410-396-2273
- Baltimore County: 410-887-2059
- Calvert County: 410-535-4606
- Caroline County: 410-479-2535
- Carroll County: 410-386-3800
- Cecil County: 410-996-8174
- Charles County: 301-934-9305
- Dorchester County: 410-376-3662
- Frederick County: 301-600-1234
- Garrett County: 301-334-9431
- Harford County: 410-638-3025
- Howard County: 410-313-7392
- Kent County: 410-778-2564
- Montgomery County: 301-255-4250
- Prince George’s County: 301-265-8471
- Queen Anne’s County: 410-758-0848
- Somerset County: 410-742-0505
- St. Mary’s County: 301-475-4200
- Talbot County: 410-822-2869
- Washington County: 301-790-0275
- Wicomico County: 410-742-0505
- Worcester County: 410-742-0505
Under 65 and Need Insurance?
Maryland Health Connections can help you compare costs and coverage options for several major health care plans, and determine if your eligible for subsidies.
SHIP Resources
Download State Health Insurance Assistance Program - PDF - 196.86 KB for more information on Maryland's Medicare Savings Program.
You have a seven-month window to sign up (the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65th birthday). We’ll walk you through the Initial Enrollment Period, help you decide if you need Part B if you’re still working, and ensure you don’t miss your one-time Medigap open enrollment window.
Resources:
- Get basic information and next steps for signing up based on your situation
- Prepare to sign up
- Understand how Medicare works
- Learn about the parts of Medicare
- Understand how Medicare works with your other coverage
If you missed one of the enrollment windows, you may not have to wait until next year. You might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you’ve recently moved, lost employer coverage, or had other life changes. Our counselors can help you determine if you qualify and help you avoid late enrollment penalties.
Resources:
- Part A and Part B SEPs: After your first chance to sign up, there are certain situations when you can sign up for Part B (and premium-Part A) without paying a late enrollment penalty.
- Part C and Part D SEPs: You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug coverage when certain events happen in your life.
Medicare costs change every year. Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A, but Part B has a monthly premium ($202.90 for most people in 2026). We provide clear breakdowns of deductibles, co-insurance, and "IRMAA" (the income-related adjustment) to help you estimate out-of-pocket costs for the coming year.
Resources:
You may be eligible for financial assistance you didn't know existed. We screen for Medicare Savings Program (MSP) eligibility to pay Part B premiums and Extra Help for prescription costs. In Maryland, we also assist with the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program (SPDAP), a state-specific subsidy that helps bridge the gap for low-to-moderate-income seniors.
Resources:
- Extra Help with drug costs
- Medicare Savings Program
- Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program
- Good Pill Pharmacy: a non-profit, home-delivery pharmacy offering affordable medications for anyone whose copays or deductibles are too high.
- See if you qualify for other benefits with NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp
This is the #1 question SHIP Counselors receive. Should you choose Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement (Medigap) for maximum flexibility, or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan for lower premiums and added dental/vision? We provide side-by-side, neutral comparisons of the plans available in your specific Maryland zip code.
Resources:
- Medicare Plan Finder: compare costs and benefits of prescription drug plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and/or Medigap policies
- Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Understand the types of Medicare Advantage plans (e.g., HMO, PPO)
- Tips for choosing Medicare drug coverage
- Compare Medigap plan benefits
- Compare Medigap policy premiums - PDF
If Medicare or your private insurer denies a service you believe should be covered, you have the right to appeal. Our counselors act as your advocate, helping you gather the right paperwork, understanding the five levels of the appeals process, and communicating with providers to resolve billing disputes.
Resources:
- If you disagree with a coverage or payment decision by Original Medicare, your Medicare Advantage, or your Medicare drug plan you can file an appeal.
- If you have concerns about the quality of your care or other services, you can file a complaint.
As your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program administrators, we can help you spot errors on your Medicare Summary Notice that could indicate fraud. If you’ve received suspicious phone calls or bills for equipment you never ordered, we provide a secure, confidential way to report it and protect your benefits.
- Get help from the Senior Medicare Patrol
Become a SHIP Volunteer
SHIP volunteers are members of your community, often your peers, who have been trained and certified as Medicare experts. If you enjoy problem-solving and want to make a tangible difference in the lives of older adults in Maryland, complete a volunteer interest form.