If you're choosing a Medicare plan in the District, sorting out a confusing bill, or asking about QMB for a parent, DC SHIP Medicare help is free at (202) 727-8370. It comes from the District's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), whose SHIP counselors also answer at ship.dacl@dc.gov. DACL describes DC SHIP in its 2026 fact sheet as a free, federally funded program providing unbiased Medicare counseling. And because the District sets its Qualified Medicare Beneficiary limit at 300% of the federal poverty level, one call to DC SHIP can turn up help with Medicare costs that a family assumed it earned too much to get.,

In This Guide

How DC SHIP Works When There's No Local Agency

There's no county office to hunt for in DC. The District has no Area Agency on Aging below the District level: DACL's 2024-2027 State Plan on Aging says DACL "serves as the State and Area Agency on Aging" and that "DC is a single planning and service area and does not have Area Agencies on Aging."

So the counselors you reach are DACL's own: DACL's Health Insurance Counseling page refers to "Our SHIP counselors," names DACL as the service contact, and lists the DC SHIP service location as 250 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.

What DC SHIP counselors cover, according to DACL's page and its 2026 fact sheet:

DACL says DC SHIP serves Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers living in the District.

Which DC Line to Call for Medicare Help

DC has several helplines that sound alike, and two of them belong to DACL. Here's which one fits your problem.

Your problem Who to call How
Choosing a Medicare plan, a Medicare bill, an appeal, or screening for cost help DC SHIP at DACL (202) 727-8370, ship.dacl@dc.gov
A case manager or social worker for someone 60+, an adult 18 to 59 with a disability, or their caregiver DACL Information & Referral/Assistance 202-724-5626, Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
QMB enrollee whose Medicare premiums aren't being covered, or who never got a QMB card Office of the Health Care Ombudsman and Bill of Rights 1-877-685-6391
An Original Medicare question, or a plan problem your plan couldn't fix 1-800-MEDICARE 1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048

DACL says its Information & Referral/Assistance unit "functions as DACL’s intake assessment and referral unit for programs in health education and social services." It runs on a different number from the DC SHIP helpline.

DC's QMB Limit Is About Three Times the Federal One

This is the District rule most worth a phone call. DHCF covers the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program for District residents with household income up to 300% of the federal poverty level.

In 2026, DHCF's published QMB income limits are $4,010 a month for one person and $5,430 a month for a two-person household, with the $20 income disregard already included. Medicare.gov's federal 2026 QMB income limit for an individual is $1,350 a month, so DC's single-person limit is roughly three times the federal standard.

DHCF lists four QMB criteria (Medicare entitlement, District residence, citizenship or eligible immigration status, and income up to 300% of the federal poverty level), and no resource or asset test appears among them. Medicare.gov's advice applies here too: "Even if you don't think you qualify, you should still apply."

One thing a DC SHIP counselor can head off: QMB-only is not DC Medicaid. DHCF says that even though DC Medicaid will pay your Medicare costs, "it does not mean that you are entitled to DC Medicaid benefits," and DACL calls QMB partial Medicaid that "only helps pay for Medicare-covered services." So QMB on its own pays only toward Medicare-covered care; DACL's example is that QMB does not pay for dental or routine vision services, because Medicare generally does not cover them. Our DC Medicare Savings Programs guide covers QMB Plus and the full list of what QMB pays.

Billed for Something QMB Should Cover?

DHCF tells QMB enrollees to show their QMB card whenever they show their Medicare card, because the card is proof of QMB status and "means that your health care provider cannot bill you for Medicare co-pays or deductibles." DACL adds that Medicare Advantage plans can't charge QMB enrollees deductibles, coinsurance or copayments either, and that a provider who bills you in error may owe you a refund. Medicare.gov notes one exception to QMB billing protection: a QMB enrollee may get a bill for a small Medicaid copayment, if one applies.

There's a second check worth making after QMB approval. DACL says that if Social Security deducts your Part B premium from your check, your monthly benefit should go up by that amount once you're approved for QMB, and to contact DACL if you don't see the increase within two months of your QMB approval letter.

Joining or Leaving District Dual Choice

District Dual Choice is the District's dual eligible special needs plan program for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, and DHCF says UnitedHealthcare is the plan that currently offers it. To enroll directly in District Dual Choice, DHCF gives UnitedHealthcare's number, 1-855-801-7175 (TTY 711).

Leaving is where a counselor earns their keep, because District Dual Choice moves your Medicare and your Medicaid together. DHCF says you can leave once per quarter or during special election periods, that you can't keep Dual Choice for Medicare while leaving it for Medicaid, and that your Medicaid becomes fee-for-service after you leave. To disenroll from District Dual Choice, DHCF lists UnitedHealthcare Enrollee Services at 1-866-242-7726, DC SHIP, or 1-800-MEDICARE. Our District Dual Choice guide walks through what the plan covers.

Comparing Plans, and Whether DC SHIP Will Enroll You

Medicare's fall Open Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, when you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage or change Part D drug plans, with changes taking effect January 1. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31 allows one change.

Ask DC SHIP early whether a counselor will submit an enrollment for you or help you compare and then enroll yourself. In its June 2026 report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) says some SHIP grantees help enroll beneficiaries in Medicare plans, so practice isn't uniform from one SHIP to the next.

Thinking about Medigap instead? The District's open enrollment and guaranteed-issue rules are in our DC Medigap guide, and the fall switching options are in our Medicare Open Enrollment guide.

When Medicare Denies a Claim in DC

A denial letter is the moment to bring DC SHIP in, not something to untangle alone first. Put the denial notice, any bill that came with it and your Medicare or plan card in one place, then call (202) 727-8370 or email ship.dacl@dc.gov. DACL says its SHIP counselors can help you file an appeal for a denied medical service, resolve an unpaid medical bill, or get prescription medications.

Don't let the letter sit in a drawer. Our Medicare appeals guide lays out each appeal level and its deadline, and the sooner a counselor sees the notice, the more room you both have to act.

Who's Behind DC SHIP's Advice, and Where a Sales Complaint Goes

Before you take anyone's word on a Medicare plan, it's fair to ask what they get out of your choice. With SHIP, federal law speaks to that: every state's SHIP grant plan has to assure that program staff, volunteers included, have no conflict of interest in the counseling they give. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) makes it concrete in its conflict-of-interest guidance for SHIP volunteers: one of its examples of a built-in conflict is anyone who gets paid for enrolling people in a specific insurance plan or plans, and ACL's policy says a person with a conflict of interest may not serve as a volunteer. Our SHIP vs. broker comparison explains how a broker is paid by contrast.

And if it was an agent or broker, not a counselor, who pressured or misled you, the District has a regulator for that: the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). DISB says it investigates complaints against insurance producers, brokers or agents, that complaints can include sales misrepresentations, and that most are investigated and brought to resolution in about 45 days. DISB's Consumer Services Division takes complaints at (202) 727-8000 or disbcomplaints@dc.gov, and DISB advises keeping copies of all written communications and sending copies, not originals, with your complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm calling DC SHIP for my mother. What should I have ready?

DACL's 2026 fact sheet lists caregivers and family members supporting Medicare beneficiaries among the people DC SHIP serves, so you can make the call yourself. Have her Medicare card, any plan or QMB card, the letter or bill that prompted the call, and a list of her prescriptions within reach. If you can, call with her on the line, so the counselor can hear what she wants and she can answer questions about her own coverage.

My parent lives in Maryland or Virginia. Who do I call?

DC SHIP is set up for people living in the District, according to DACL. For a parent across the line, Medicare's appeals guide says you can get the phone number for the SHIP in any state at shiphelp.org or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

I'm a hospital case manager. Can I call DC SHIP about a patient's Medicare?

Yes. DACL's 2026 DC SHIP fact sheet lists case managers, social workers and health care providers who want to better understand Medicare among the people DC SHIP serves. If the patient needs a DACL case manager or long-term services rather than Medicare advice, that's DACL's Information & Referral/Assistance unit, which DACL says to call for a case manager or social worker; its number is in the table above.

Can DC SHIP help with long-term care insurance?

For information, yes. Federal law lists information regarding long-term care insurance among the counseling a SHIP's grant plan must provide, and the Congressional Research Service says SHIPs also assist with long-term care insurance and Medicaid eligibility and coverage issues.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare in Washington, DC: Costs, Plans, and Free Help ChoosingMedicare in Washington, DC for 2026: the $202.90 Part B premium, enrollment windows, Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, and free DC SHIP plan counseling. MedicareFree Medicare Counseling: What SHIP Is and Whether It's Really UnbiasedSHIP gives free Medicare counseling. Federal law requires its counselors to have no conflict of interest, and ACL bars licensed insurance agents. Find yours. MedicaidDistrict of Columbia Medicare Savings Programs: Help Paying Medicare CostsDC Medicare Savings Programs pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. See the District's 2026 QMB income limits ($4,010 single) and how to apply. MedicareDistrict Dual Choice: How DC's Medicare-Medicaid Plan Works for Dual EligiblesDistrict Dual Choice puts DC Medicare and Medicaid in one UnitedHealthcare plan. Who can join, how to enroll, and what leaving changes for both coverages. MedicareMedigap in Washington, DC: Open Enrollment, Guaranteed Issue, and Buying a Medicare SupplementDC Medicare Supplement guide: when the District's Medigap window opens, the 63-day guaranteed issue deadline, the 30-day free look, and where to complain. MedicareSHIP Counselor vs. Medicare Broker: Who Actually Pays Each OneA 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.

Find personalized help sorting out a DC Medicare bill, plan choice or QMB question 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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