Various organizations can help people navigate the Medicare enrollment process, including SHIP, the CMS, and the SSA.

Navigating the Medicare system and enrolling in the right plans at the right time can be confusing. However, individuals can get help with this process in various ways.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers unbiased, one-on-one counseling and assistance for navigating the Medicare system.

SHIP can help with various aspects of Medicare, including:

  • information on out-of-pocket costs
  • enrollment and enrollment periods
  • coverage
  • eligibility criteria
  • individual rights under Medicare

SHIP contact information

To contact SHIP, people can:

  • call 877-839-2675
  • use the SHIP locator to find and contact their local SHIP office

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency that provides health coverage through:

  • Medicare
  • Medicaid
  • Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Health Insurance Marketplace

Through these avenues, the CMS helps provide coverage to over 160 million people. It works with the healthcare community to improve the quality, equity, and outcomes of the healthcare system.

CMS contact information for Medicare

To find assistance with Medicare 24/7, people can:

  • call 800-633-4227 (TTY: 877-486-2048)
  • start an online chat

While CMS runs the Medicare program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) handles Medicare enrollment. When a person is ready to enroll in Medicare, they will do so through the SSA.

The SSA can be helpful for finding information on various parts of Medicare, such as:

SSA contact information

To contact the SSA about Medicare, people can:

  • call 800-772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778)
  • find and contact their local SSA office here

Each state has a state insurance department. These departments are particularly helpful for getting more information about Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap).

Generally, each state will list the Medigap premiums each year for Medicare-approved private insurance companies.

State insurance department contact information

To find a local state insurance department, individuals can visit the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website and select their state from the drop-down menu.

The Medicare Rights Center provides a free independent online reference tool called Medicare Interactive. It offers easy-to-understand answers to questions that are frequently asked by Medicare beneficiaries.

The Medicare Rights Center also has Medicare counselors people can speak with for help with Medicare enrollment and other topics.

Medicare Rights Center contact information

To speak with a counselor, people can call 800-333-4114.

There are various options for individuals to find more information and assistance with Medicare enrollment.

These include SHIP, the SSA, and the CMS. State insurance departments can also help with information on Medigap.

Medicare resources

For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.