The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. SHIP is a statewide program sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Human Services with major funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal Medicare agency.
Medicare beneficiaries frequently have questions about benefits and claims, supplement policies, and long-term care insurance. Volunteer counselors, trained in areas of health insurance coverage and benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries, provide information and assistance for dealing with claims and in evaluating health insurance needs.
Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice, sell, recommend, endorse any specific insurance product, agent, insurance company, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan. They provide information and assistance so that you can make your own decisions. Counseling is free of charge.
Click here to find a counseling site in your area, or call your County Office on Aging
For Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older:
For Medicare beneficiaries age 50 to 64:
For Under 50:
- Only Horizon offers a plan for individuals under age 50 [pdf 155k]
If you are interested in receiving your Medicare coverage through a Medicare Advantage Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or a Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan, use the link below to view plans currently available in New Jersey*. Please note that many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. Ask the company you are interested in selecting how this benefit works.
*Please note that Medicare beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease cannot enroll in a Medicare HMO, PPO or PFFS plan.
Remember: SHIP provides free help to New Jersey Medicare beneficiaries who have problems with, or questions about their health insurance. Counseling sites have been established in all 21 counties to serve you. You can also contact a SHIP counselor through your County Office on Aging.
Report Medicare & Medicaid Waste, Fraud & Abuse 1-732-777-1940, ext. 1117
