SAMPLE: SHIP Volunteers Wanted

The State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is a statewide health insurance counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. SHIP is a volunteer driven program to assist consumers in making informed health insurance decisions. SHIP counselors are trained to:

• Educate consumers and answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplement, long term care insurance, Medicare HMOs, private fee-for-service and other health insurance;
• Organize and assist in filing Medicare and Medicare Supplement claims; and
• Analyze Medicare Supplement and long term care policies.

Here's What SHIP Counselors Do

Medicare beneficiaries and their families who need help will make an appointment to meet with you for one-on-one counseling. They might need help understanding their health insurance choices, such as HMOs and Medigap. Or they might need your help with correcting their health insurance claims.

As a SHIP Counselor, you might talk to small groups of retirees, help out at health fairs and enrollment events and help those who can't navigate the Medicare system on their own.

Qualifications

We are seeking people who want to help Medicare beneficiaries and their families to better understand their health insurance choices- original Medicare, managed care, Medigap insurance, long term care insurance, and Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage- and to help them solve their health insurance problems.

If you are reliable, able to maintain confidentiality, have a sensitive and caring attitude, can communicate well with others and want to make a real difference, we can use your help.

Training and Preparation

We will provide you with the knowledge and basic skills you will need to be a successful counselor. We will also support you with information from experts and a reference compendium to guide you in providing information to beneficiaries. You will also participate in routine volunteer meetings and other opportunities to deal with the needs of beneficiaries.