Mercer County SHIP -The State Health Insurance Assistance Program

02/28/2023

Have Medicare and need assistance?

There are programs that may be able to help.

SHIP offer free, unbiased Medicare counseling sessions online, in person and by phone to help navigate the complexities of Medicare.

SHIP will also screen for and assist eligible beneficiaries to enroll in programs for low income Medicare beneficiaries.

Call 609-695-6274 x215 to start the process today with the Mercer county SHIP team.

08/29/2022

Need help choosing a Part D plan?

Call SHIP on 609 273 0588

The late enrollment penalty is an amount that's permanently added to your Medicare drug coverage (Part D) premium. You may owe a late enrollment penalty if at any time after your Initial Enrollment Period is over, there's a period of 63 or more days in a row when you don't have Medicare drug coverage or other creditable prescription drug coverage. You’ll generally have to pay the penalty for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
Wondering if you owe a penalty or unsure how to ask for a "reconsideration?" Your local SHIP can help you. FInd your SHIP at www.shiphelp.org

08/17/2022

Confused - call us on 609-273-0588 to arrange to speak to a local SHIP Counselor in Mercer Coubty, NJ.

Contact your SHIP if you have questions about choosing a Part D plan. SHIPs provide one-on-one help reviewing your coverage options or making coverage changes. SHIPs provide local, trusted, unbiased Medicare counseling.

05/24/2022

Still got questions after visiting the new Medicare.gov website - call your local SHIP team for personalized guidance from a certified SHIP counselor local to you!

Mercer county, NJ, SHIP team - 609-273-0588

Check out the newly redesigned Medicare.gov! Find the information you need more easily to get started with , to better understand your coverage, and more.

05/03/2022

Get FREE help applying for all these programs from SHIP and our integrated benefits enrollment center!

Call 609 273 0588 to start the process.

MSPs are state programs that assist you with paying your Medicare costs, including Part B premiums and sometimes Part A premiums. One kind of MSP, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, or QMB, also pays for deductibles, coinsurances, and copayments. Another kind of MSP is available to some Medicare beneficiaries who are under 65 and work. Each MSP has different benefits and eligibility requirements. You will be enrolled in the MSP that corresponds to your income, assets, and other application details.

To learn if you qualify for an MSP, contact your state Medicaid agency or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program, called SHIP. A SHIP counselor can help you find out if your income and assets are under your state’s limits for an MSP. Your SHIP can also help you with the application. SHIPs are experts at understanding how Medicaid and Medicare work together. www.shiphelp.org

04/21/2022

You can only change or enroll in a Part D plan at specific times but SHIP is available year round to help you understand when, how and why you can change. Plus we’ll help you find the plan that is best value based on your medications and needs!

Call 609 273 0588 for local assistance in Mercer county, NJ

Contact your SHIP if you have questions about choosing a Part D plan. SHIPs provide one-on-one help reviewing your coverage options or making coverage changes. SHIPs provide local, trusted, unbiased Medicare counseling.
www.shiphelp.org has a locator to help you find a SHIP near your!

04/08/2022

Missed your Medicare enrollment due to problems contacting social security last year?
Read the full post below to check if you’re eligible for extra time and contact SHIP for help understanding your coverage choices - in Mercer County reach us on 609 273 0588

You’re eligible for extra time to sign up if all of these apply:

☑ You’re eligible to sign up for Medicare between January 1, 2022 - December 30, 2022 and were unable to because of problems with Social Security’s telephone system.
☑ You haven’t signed up for Medicare yet.
☑ You sign up for Medicare by December 30, 2022.

ℹ How do I sign up during this time?
You can sign up the same way you would if you were signing up during the enrollment period you missed. If you need help with your Medicare enrollment, contact a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in your area.
Find your SHIP at www.shiphelp.org

04/07/2022

Ever wondered about health equity? Read on!

❓ What is Health Equity? - Health equity is when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
❓ What Are Health Disparities? - Health disparities are differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people.
Read about what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is doing to help reduce disparities in health.
https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/equity-initiatives/equity-plan

04/06/2022

Call 609-273-0588 to connect with a local SHIP counselor in Mercer county who knows the rules in New Jersey and get your questions answered!

Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to learn about the Medigap rules in your state and to get help comparing plan costs and options. You can find your SHIP at www.shiphelp.org

Medigaps are health insurance policies that offer standardized benefits to work with Original Medicare (not Medicare Advantage). They are sold by private insurance companies. If you have a Medigap, it pays part or all of certain remaining costs (the gaps) after Original Medicare pays first. Medigaps may also cover health care costs that Medicare does not cover at all, like care received when traveling abroad.
Remember, Medigaps only work with Original
Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cannot buy a Medigap.

04/04/2022

Stay informed - beware of scams but don’t miss out on services you are entitled to.

NBC News was given an exclusive look into the Department of Justice headquarters as a strike force investigates telemedicine fraud growing to new levels. Telemedicine has made health care more accessible during the pandemic, but hundreds of rules for Medicaid and Medicare were relaxed. U.S. Assistan...

03/30/2022

Call us on 609-273-0588 for help in Mercer County for appeals and more!

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Contact your SHIP for individualized, unbiased counseling and assistance regarding Medicare grievances, denials, and appeals*.
*An appeal is the action you can take if you disagree
with a coverage or payment decision by Medicare or your Medicare plan.
Learn more at medicare.gov/claims-appeals/how-do-i-file-an-appeal

03/21/2022

Stay informed - follow our SHIP page for updates!

People in either Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will be able to get over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost starting in early spring.
Under the new initiative, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to access up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests per month for free. Tests will be available through eligible pharmacies and other participating entities. Read more at cms.gov/newsroom