TN SHIP, the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program, is a free service that gives Medicare beneficiaries in Tennessee one-on-one counseling from trained advisors who don’t sell insurance and aren’t paid by any plan. It’s administered by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging and delivered locally through nine regional Area Agencies on Aging and Disability.
What a SHIP Counselor Can Help You With
Counselors walk beneficiaries through enrollment in Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, the choice between Medicare Advantage and Medigap, prescription drug coverage, and appeals of claims or billing disputes.1Wisconsin Department of Health Services. SHIP Medicare Counseling They also explain which preventive services Medicare covers, including wellness visits, vaccinations, and screenings.
Every session is confidential and free. Counselors are screened, trained, and certified before they begin advising beneficiaries, and because they earn nothing from any plan choice, the guidance is oriented solely toward your interests.1Wisconsin Department of Health Services. SHIP Medicare Counseling
Help Paying for Medicare
A significant part of the program’s work is connecting low-income beneficiaries with cost-saving programs. SHIP counselors help people apply for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy, known as Extra Help, which lowers prescription drug costs, and for Medicare Savings Programs, which are state-administered programs that help cover Medicare premiums and cost-sharing.2Administration for Community Living. Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act If your income is limited, ask a counselor to screen you for both.
Who Can Use TN SHIP
The program is open to anyone in Tennessee who is enrolled in Medicare or eligible for it. That includes people turning 65, people under 65 who qualify through a disability, and current beneficiaries with questions during open enrollment or after a life change such as a move, a new diagnosis, or the loss of other coverage.
How to Reach a Counselor in Your Part of Tennessee
SHIP services are delivered through nine regional Area Agencies on Aging and Disability. Contact the one that covers your county to arrange a counseling session by phone or in person:3Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Spotlight
- First Tennessee AAAD, covering the northeastern corner of the state.
- East Tennessee AAAD, serving the Knoxville region and surrounding counties.
- Southeast Tennessee AAAD, covering the Chattanooga area.
- Upper Cumberland AAAD, serving the upper Cumberland Plateau.
- Greater Nashville AAAD, covering the Nashville metropolitan area.
- South Central Tennessee AAAD, serving the south-central counties.
- Northwest Tennessee AAAD, covering the northwestern region.
- Southwest Tennessee AAAD, serving the southwestern counties.
- Aging Commission of the Mid-South, covering Memphis and surrounding West Tennessee counties.
How TN SHIP Differs From an Insurance Agent
A licensed insurance agent may only sell the plans they’re appointed with, and they earn commissions on those sales. A SHIP counselor has no financial stake in your decision and can lay out every option available to you. If you want a full comparison rather than a sales conversation, that neutrality is the reason to call SHIP first.