If a Medicare bill, a plan letter or advice to "call SHIP" has you stuck in Indiana, for yourself or a parent, free Indiana SHIP Medicare help starts with one call to 1-800-452-4800. Indiana SHIP is Indiana's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and the Indiana Department of Insurance's SHIP volunteer brochure describes Indiana SHIP as a free and impartial counseling program for people with Medicare. Indiana SHIP also has local sites located throughout the state, and Indiana SHIP does not sell insurance.

In This Guide

What Is Indiana SHIP, and Who Runs It?

Indiana SHIP is Indiana's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, and its state team works within the Indiana Department of Insurance (IDOI). The IDOI team page is headed "Meet our Indiana SHIP, State Health Insurance Assistance Program, Team," and it lists a SHIP Program Director, a Training Director, a Medicare Specialist and Volunteer Supervisors. Those job titles show that a state team, including people who train and supervise volunteers, stands behind the counselors you talk to.

Two levels of government stand behind Indiana SHIP. IDOI's SHIP volunteer brochure says Indiana SHIP is provided by the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the Indiana Department of Insurance, and that it is part of a federal network of State Health Insurance Assistance Programs located in every state.

That national network explains why the name can vary when you look outside Indiana. Speaking for SHIPs nationally, ACL says SHIP is a national program of ACL and that, depending on your area, you may know your local SHIP by another name, but the support it provides is the same. Medicare's own "Medicare Appeals" guide 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.

Our Indiana Medicare plans and coverage guide covers Indiana's plan choices and costs, and our guide to free Medicare counseling through your SHIP explains how SHIPs work across the country. This page goes further into Indiana SHIP itself.

What Indiana SHIP Medicare Help Can You Get?

Indiana SHIP handles more than Medicare alone. IDOI's Volunteering for SHIP page says Indiana SHIP volunteers are called on to assist with questions on Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicaid, employer benefit plans, managed care plans, long-term care, help paying for prescriptions and more. So if the question is how a retiree plan fits with Medicare, or how the Parts of Medicare work together, it belongs on the call.

The same IDOI page spells out what an Indiana SHIP counseling session can include:

  • an analysis of your insurance needs
  • side-by-side policy comparisons
  • help with filing claims
  • appeals, or filling out applications for assistance

Bring your paperwork. Indiana SHIP counseling is a direct discussion about your individual situation, and IDOI says it may include review of personal information such as Medicare Summary Notices, billing statements, and other related financial and health documents. Having the actual notice in front of the counselor turns a vague worry into a specific answer.

You don't have to travel for it. IDOI says Indiana SHIP counseling can take place on-site, virtually or by phone, and that trained SHIP volunteers assist through an 800 help line, virtually, or at local sites in most Indiana counties.

For comparison, ACL's national list of what SHIPs help with includes understanding your choices, how to enroll, plan comparison, coverage and costs, paying for Medicare and prescriptions, troubleshooting billing issues, submitting appeals, and referral to other resources. ACL also says, for SHIPs nationally, that a certified counselor gives you one-on-one guidance based on your unique situation and needs.

Where Can You Get Indiana SHIP Medicare Help in Person?

IDOI's Find a Indiana SHIP Location page says SHIP sites are located throughout the state, and it carries a table of Indiana SHIP Sites by County that lists each site with its phone number, extension and city. Look up your county on that page for the site nearest you, and contact the site before you go.

The sites are ordinary community places rather than insurance offices. These are examples of the kinds of hosts on IDOI's county list:

Kind of host Example on IDOI's list
Regional aging agency, labeled by area number (Area 3) Aging & In-Home Services of Northeast Indiana
Hospital Parkview Hospital
Senior center Henry County Senior Center
Public library Shoals Public Library
Church High Street United Methodist Church

What happens at a site follows the national SHIP model. Nationally, ACL says SHIP counselors are members of your local community who have been screened, trained and certified as Medicare experts.

Indiana SHIP events and Facebook Live

Indiana SHIP also comes to groups. IDOI's SHIP Presentations & Events page lists Indiana SHIP events that include Medicare 101 presentations, information booths, and Open Enrollment enrollment events. Read each listing before you plan around it, because IDOI marks some events Open to the Public and others For Residents ONLY.

IDOI's listings include Open Enrollment Help Sessions, and Medicare's fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 each year, with changes taking effect January 1 of the next year., Our guide to Medicare Open Enrollment explains what you can change during that window.

If you can't get to an event, IDOI's events page points to past Indiana SHIP Facebook Live events you can watch at facebook.com/Indiana.SHIP.

Free printed Indiana SHIP brochures

IDOI's SHIP Informational Brochures page says you can preview Indiana SHIP brochures online or ask for printed copies by emailing shiphelp@idoi.in.gov. Titles on the list include New to Medicare, Under 65 and Disabled, Getting Help with Medicare Costs, Medigap Rights and Protections, and Nursing Home Resident with a Spouse at Home - Spousal Impoverishment. A printed copy can be easier for a parent to keep by the phone than a web page.

Can Indiana SHIP Help You Pay for Medicare?

Indiana SHIP's part in Medicare costs is pointing you to help and working through the applications with you. IDOI's SHIP volunteer brochure says Indiana SHIP counselors can assist with low income assistance applications, as well as referrals to other similar programs.

IDOI's SHIP page on applying for the Low-Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs gathers three application routes in one place:

  • a link to ssa.gov, which IDOI labels as the way to apply for Low Income Assistance
  • a link to the Medicare Savings Application form
  • a link to the HoosierRx application page

If you'd rather not fill out a Low Income Assistance, Medicare Savings Program or HoosierRx application alone, IDOI's Indiana SHIP page on applying for these programs says to find a dedicated Enrollment Center near you, or to call (800) 452-4800 to find an Enrollment Center site near you. The page lists Indiana SHIP enrollment centers by aging-service area and county, for example AREA 1 - Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter, Pulaski, and Starke Counties.

Income and asset rules for each program are in our guides to Indiana Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Savings Programs nationally, Extra Help with drug costs and HoosierRx.

Can Indiana SHIP Help With a Claim or an Appeal?

Yes, within limits worth understanding. IDOI's Volunteering for SHIP page says Indiana SHIP counseling can include help with filing claims, and appeals or filling out applications for assistance. IDOI's wording is help with filing, so plan on an Indiana SHIP counselor guiding you through the claim or appeal and its forms rather than taking it over.

Medicare itself sends people to SHIP for this. Medicare's official "Medicare Appeals" guide (April 2026) tells people with Medicare to call their State Health Insurance Assistance Program for free, personalized health insurance counseling, including help with appeals.

Some problems need someone to talk to Medicare directly. Speaking for SHIPs nationally, ACL says that with your permission, SHIP will work with Medicare directly to help solve problems on your behalf. Appeal levels and deadlines are in our guide to Medicare appeals.

Is Indiana SHIP on Your Side?

When you're comparing plans, you want advice from someone with nothing to sell you, and Indiana SHIP is built that way. IDOI's SHIP volunteer brochure states that Indiana SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company or agency and does not sell insurance.

Indiana SHIP holds its volunteers to the same line. To be an active Indiana SHIP volunteer, IDOI says a person must NOT be affiliated with (employed by, or in a position to sell) any insurance product, agency, company or service, and must be willing to assure complete confidentiality to every client.

Federal law backs that up for every state. Under 42 U.S.C. 1395b-4, each state's SHIP grant plan must provide assurances that staff members, including volunteer staff members, have no conflict of interest in providing the counseling. ACL's conflict-of-interest resource gives one example of a person with an inherent conflict of interest: anyone who receives compensation for enrolling beneficiaries in a specific insurance plan or plans.

The payment model points the same way. Nationally, ACL says SHIP is not paid per enrollment. Our comparison of SHIP counselors and Medicare brokers explains how each is paid, and if a call or offer feels wrong, our guide to Medicare fraud protection explains how to spot and report Medicare fraud.

How Do You Volunteer With Indiana SHIP?

Indiana SHIP runs on volunteers. IDOI's Volunteering for SHIP page calls it a satisfying volunteer opportunity for hundreds of people across Indiana and says volunteers are the key to the program's success.

The commitment is real. IDOI says an active Indiana SHIP volunteer must:

  • complete a 24-30 hour Initial Training
  • attend regular local in-service training sessions (usually two half-day sessions per year)
  • complete at least 9 Client Contact forms per month
  • have no affiliation with any insurance product, agency, company or service
  • make a minimum one-year commitment
  • be willing to assure complete confidentiality to every client

Not every Indiana SHIP volunteer counsels the public. IDOI offers a choice of personal or virtual counseling, special events and presentations, or an administrative support aide role, and volunteers in the administrative role do not field questions from the public. The Volunteering for SHIP page on in.gov/ship links to the application to become an Indiana SHIP volunteer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call Indiana SHIP for my mother or father?

Yes, family members can call. For SHIPs nationally, ACL says SHIP provides unbiased help to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. Because Indiana SHIP counseling may include review of personal documents such as Medicare Summary Notices and billing statements, it helps to have your parent's paperwork, or your parent, with you on the call.

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

No. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official Medicare contact line operated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), TTY (text telephone) users call 1-877-486-2048, and Medicare.gov says you can talk or live chat with a real person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. Indiana SHIP is Indiana's own free counseling program, provided by ACL and the Indiana Department of Insurance, with local sites across the state.

Can I get Indiana SHIP help if I'm under 65?

Yes, if you have Medicare. IDOI's SHIP volunteer brochure says Indiana SHIP wants to help people with Medicare, including people under 65 with disabilities, get more value from their health insurance dollars. IDOI's brochure list also includes one titled Under 65 and Disabled.

How do I find SHIP help for a parent who lives outside Indiana?

Every state has its own State Health Insurance Assistance Program, according to IDOI's SHIP volunteer brochure, so a parent living outside Indiana can turn to the SHIP in their state. Medicare's "Medicare Appeals" guide says that to get the phone number for the SHIP in your state, you can visit shiphelp.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans and Coverage in IndianaMedicare in Indiana for 2026: Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, free SHIP counseling, and Indiana's Medicare Savings 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. 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. MedicareHoosierRx: How Indiana Helps Pay Your Part D PremiumHoosierRx pays up to $70 a month toward Medicare Part D premiums for Indiana residents 65 and older. See the 2026 income limits, plan rules, and how to apply. MedicareIndiana's Medigap Birthday RuleIndiana's Medigap birthday rule lets enrollees age 65+ switch to the same plan letter at a new carrier each year, with no medical underwriting. MedicaidIndiana Medicare Savings ProgramsIndiana Medicare Savings Programs in 2026: QMB, SLMB, and QI income limits, Part B premium savings, Part D Extra Help, and how to apply through FSSA.

Find personalized help getting free Indiana SHIP Medicare counseling 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.

Still have questions?

Brevy answers from this guide and every other guide here, and can check what you qualify for.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.