Alabama SHIP Medicare counseling is free, and the counselors and volunteers who give it are not affiliated with any insurance company and will not try to sell you insurance. If you're facing a Part D decision, a confusing bill or a parent's first year on Medicare, the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) says to reach the SHIP in your area through your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463). SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and in Alabama it is a program of ADSS, not of an insurance company.

In This Guide

What Is Alabama SHIP, and Who Runs It?

Alabama SHIP is Alabama's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and ADSS runs it. SHIP appears in the ADSS State Plan on Aging, where ADSS monitors the local SHIP Coordinators and a SHIP Director reviews the SHIP data reported by the Area Agencies on Aging. ADSS describes Alabama SHIP as a trusted source for information about Medicare, related health insurance and low-income resources.

You may also see Alabama SHIP mentioned by the Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI), and that can make it look as if the insurance department runs the program. It doesn't. ALDOI's senior health insurance page is a referral point: it tells consumers who need further help to call Alabama's SHIP at (800) 243-5463, the same statewide number ADSS gives.

The SHIP name comes from a national program. The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) says SHIP is a national program that offers one-on-one assistance, counseling and education to Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers. Medicare's official "Medicare Appeals" guide, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), defines a SHIP as a state program that gets money from the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. For how SHIPs work across the country, see Brevy's guide to free Medicare counseling through your SHIP.

How Do You Reach Alabama SHIP Medicare Counseling?

Alabama SHIP counseling is delivered locally, so the route to a counselor runs through your Area Agency on Aging. ADSS says Alabama has 13 Area Agencies on Aging, and each one has an Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for aging, disability and caregiver help, so in Alabama the ADRC is part of the AAA rather than a separate organization. ADSS calls the ADRC the first place to go with aging, disability and caregiver questions, and it lists Medicare and Medicaid counseling among the services available through One Door Alabama.

1
Step 1

Call 1-800-AGE-LINE or find your county's agency

ADSS tells people to contact the SHIP in their area by calling their local AAA and ADRC at 1-800-AGE-LINE (1-800-243-5463). The ADSS Help & Services page also has a district map you can click to find help in your county, and it lists all 13 Area Agencies on Aging with the counties each one serves and its own phone numbers.

2
Step 2

Ask for SHIP or Medicare counseling

ADSS gives 1-800-AGE-LINE as its one statewide number for help and services, so say you're calling about SHIP or Medicare counseling.

3
Step 3

Call during business hours if you can

ADSS says that during normal business hours each ADRC will have a live person answer the phone.

Brevy's guide to caregiver programs in Alabama explains the other help the same local agencies offer.

What Can an Alabama SHIP Counselor Help You With?

An Alabama SHIP counselor covers more than the fall plan review. The ADSS SHIP page and the One Door Alabama services page describe what the program does, and the table below sorts those descriptions by the question you're likely to bring.

If your question is about... What Alabama SHIP says it can do
How Medicare works Help you understand Medicare benefits
A drug plan Help you determine which Medicare Prescription Drug Plan best fits your needs
Medigap, Medicare Advantage or long-term care insurance Answer questions about Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, long-term care insurance and other health insurance programs for seniors
A claim, an appeal or home health care Assist in specific areas such as home health benefits, Medicare claims and appeals
Other local help Give details about benefits available in your area and refer you to other programs or agencies
A group or community event Group presentations by SHIP counselors on health insurance topics

The table reflects ADSS's SHIP page and the One Door Alabama services page. Nationally, CMS lists the questions a SHIP can help with as your Medicare rights, billing problems, complaints about your medical care or treatment, plan choices, how Medicare works with other insurance, and finding help paying for health care costs. ACL says SHIP team members are trained and certified to help people obtain coverage through Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap.

Can Alabama SHIP Help You Pay for Medicare?

Alabama SHIP's role with cost help is helping you apply, not deciding whether you qualify. The One Door Alabama services page lists Medicare Saving Plan and LIS (Low Income Subsidy) applications assistance in its SHIP entry. ACL says, of SHIPs nationally, that SHIP assists beneficiaries with limited income to apply for programs such as Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, which help pay for or reduce health care costs.

This page doesn't list income or asset limits, because those belong in the guides built for them. Alabama's own Medicare Savings Program rules are in Brevy's guide to Alabama Medicare Savings Programs, the national rules are in our guide to Medicare Savings Programs, and help with Part D drug costs is in our guide to Extra Help.

Can Alabama SHIP Help With Medigap or an Appeal?

Yes, Alabama SHIP handles both kinds of question. ADSS says Alabama SHIP can answer questions about Medigap, long-term care insurance policies and other health insurance programs for seniors. Medicare's March 2026 guide "Choosing a Medigap Policy" tells people to call their State Insurance Department or their SHIP to get state-specific Medigap information.

If the problem is with a Medigap company or agent you already deal with, ALDOI's Medicare Supplement Insurance Dos and Don'ts page tells Alabama consumers to contact the state insurance department's consumer services division with any questions or any problem the company or agent caused. Alabama's own Medigap enrollment rules are in Brevy's Alabama Medicare Supplement guide.

For an appeal, the ADSS SHIP page lists Medicare claims and appeals among the specific areas SHIP can assist with. Medicare's official "Medicare Appeals" guide (CMS Product No. 11525, April 2026) tells people with Medicare to call their SHIP for free, personalized health insurance counseling, including help with appeals. The appeal levels and their deadlines are in Brevy's guide to Medicare appeals.

Where Do Medicare Fraud and Billing Errors Go in Alabama?

Suspected fraud goes to a different program, the Alabama Senior Medicare Patrol. ADSS says the AL SMP's mission is to teach and empower Medicare beneficiaries, their caregivers and families how to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse. The AL SMP is federally funded through ACL and is made up of staff and volunteers who respond to reports of suspected Medicare fraud and abuse and determine next steps.

When you bring a complaint to the AL SMP, it determines whether fraud, errors or abuse is suspected. When fraud is suspected, the AL SMP makes referrals to the appropriate federal agency for further investigation. ACL says, of SMPs nationally, that many SMP grantees also offer SHIP services.

If you'd like to help others spot fraud, ADSS says to call your local AAA and ADRC at 1-800-AGE-LINE to become an Alabama SMP volunteer. Medicare's reporting Medicare fraud page explains how to report suspected fraud directly to Medicare, and Brevy's guide to Medicare fraud protection covers the warning signs.

When Is the Best Time to Call Alabama SHIP?

Alabama SHIP counseling isn't tied to one season, but a few Medicare deadlines make timing matter. The Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 each year, and changes made during it take effect January 1 of the following year. Since ADSS says SHIP can help you determine which Medicare Prescription Drug Plan best fits your needs, calling early in that window leaves time to compare before the December 7 deadline.

Turning 65 is the other moment to plan around. Medicare's Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the 3 months after. Brevy's guide to Medicare Open Enrollment explains the fall window in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alabama SHIP the same as 1-800-MEDICARE?

No, Alabama SHIP and 1-800-MEDICARE are two different services. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official Medicare contact line for beneficiaries, operated by CMS, and teletypewriter (TTY) users call 1-877-486-2048. Alabama SHIP is Alabama's own State Health Insurance Assistance Program, run by ADSS and reached locally through the Area Agencies on Aging.

Can an Alabama SHIP counselor also be an insurance agent?

Federal law points the other way. 42 U.S.C. 1395b-4 requires each state's SHIP grant plan to provide assurances that staff members, including volunteer staff members, of the counseling program have no conflict of interest in providing that counseling. ACL's conflict-of-interest resource for SHIP volunteers names anyone who receives compensation for enrolling beneficiaries in a specific insurance plan or plans as one example of a person with an inherent conflict of interest. If you're comparing a SHIP counselor with a licensed agent, our comparison of SHIP counselors and Medicare brokers explains how each is paid.

How do I find Alabama SHIP help for a parent in another county?

Use your parent's county, not your own. ADSS directs people to contact the SHIP in their area through their local Area Agency on Aging, so the agency that serves your parent's county is the one to call. The ADSS Help & Services page has a district map you can click to find help in a given county, as described in the steps above, so you don't have to guess which office covers your parent.

What if my parent is unhappy with a Medicare Advantage plan after January 1?

There is a second window for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 each year, and a person already in a Medicare Advantage plan may make one change during it, either to another Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a drug plan. An Alabama SHIP counselor can answer questions about Medicare Advantage before your parent uses that one change.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans and Coverage in AlabamaMedicare in Alabama for 2026: Parts A and B costs, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, free SHIP counseling via ADSS, and the MSP programs. MedicareFree Medicare Counseling Through Your SHIPSHIP gives free Medicare counseling. Federal law requires its counselors to have no conflict of interest, and ACL bars licensed insurance agents. Find yours. MedicareAlabama Medicare Supplement GuideAlabama Medicare supplement rules: your one-time Medigap window at 65, why Alabama won't guarantee a policy under 65, and the 63-day guaranteed-issue clocks. MedicaidAlabama Medicare Savings ProgramsAlabama Medicare Savings Programs 2026: QMB, SLMB, and QI income limits, no asset test, Part B premium savings, Extra Help, and how to apply. MedicareSHIP Counselor vs. Medicare BrokerA SHIP counselor and a Medicare broker are both free to you, but one is paid by the government and one by the insurer. See who pays each and when to use which. CaregiverAlabama Caregiver ProgramsEvery caregiver program in Alabama: paid family caregiver pathways, Alabama CARES respite, VA benefits, and caregiver taxes explained for families in 2026.

Find personalized help getting free Alabama SHIP Medicare counseling for yourself or a parent at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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