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The Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program – SHIP - meets one of the most universal needs of individuals who are Medicare eligible (including caregivers and those under 65 years of age) – understanding their health insurance benefits, bills and rights. SHIP is the only hands-on, one-to-one counseling program in the United States that offers assistance in the following areas: understanding Medicare, understanding supplemental policies (Medigap) and choices that Medicare beneficiaries have, organizing medical bills, resolving delays on claims, filing appeals, determining eligibility for low-income programs which would save health care dollars, obtaining information on long term care insurance, and obtaining assistance in choosing a Medicare Part D prescription plan. The Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program – SHIP – adopted the symbol of the lighthouse, which is used as its logo in the State of Maryland. Health Insurance Advocate for Washington County SHIP, Katrina Eversole, has been known to say that this program is “a beacon of light in the sea of Medicare”.

Washington County has a population of over 125,000, with more than 20,000 individuals who are Medicare beneficiaries. Documented savings to Washington County residents, in the form of retrieved monies from incorrect or fraudulent bills and health care dollars saved when qualifying individuals for State programs in any given year has been over a quarter of a million dollars. The Senior Health Insurance Program is one of the most cost-effective and beneficial services offered by the Washington County Commission on Aging. Daily the uninsured and underinsured are guided through the maze of healthcare options by one-to-one counseling either conducted in the office or via home visits. Public education seminars are conducted periodically to address “crisis” situations in the senior healthcare community.

The Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program promotes health and wellness by removing the barriers and stigma for those who cannot navigate their way through the complicated healthcare system. SHIP is a neighborhood-based counseling/advocacy service that makes health care affordable, accessible and understandable to those in Washington County.

For additional information, contact Katrina Eversole, Health Insurance Advocate, at 301-790-0275 ext. 208.