Become a SHIP Medicare Volunteer!

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their Medicare issues, promote community aware-ness or assist with administrative support, the Medicare SHIP team needs your help!

Medicare Volunteer• Help people find their way through Medicare and related health insurance programs• Provide one-on-one counseling and assistance

Medicare Part D Volunteer• Help people navigate Medicare prescription drug coverage• Use Internet-based programs to compare prescription drug plan options

Outreach Assistant• Promote community awareness about the South-east Tennessee SHIP/SMP and its services• Educate the public about Medicare and related health insurance programs

Program Assistant• Provide administrative support• Help with data entry, filing and mailing informa-tion to clients

Volunteer Opportunities Take the confusion out of Medicare.

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For more information on volunteering with SHIP contact Tommy Preston at 423-424-4252 or tpreston@sedev.org.

What is SHIP?The Tennessee State Health Insurance Assis-tance Program (SHIP) is a statewide program that provides free and objective coun-seling and assistance to persons with ques-tions or problems regarding Medicare and other related health insurances.

In Tennessee, SHIP is sponsored by the Tennessee Com-mission on Aging and Disability and the statewide Area Agency on Aging and Disability network.

SHIP started in 1990 and is funded through a federal grant from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services. Currently, there are SHIPs in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

After completing training to be a certfited Medi-care counselor, SHIP volunteers provide assis-tance and help answer questions in their own communities.

SHIP volunteers help answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Me-digap), Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) and long-term care insurance.

SHIP needs enthusiastic volunteers who want to learn about Medicare and help others find their way in the maze that Medicare sometimes becomes for them.

With the exception of licensed insurance agents, anyone can be a SHIP volunteer. SHIP Volun-teers receive an initial training and continu-ous ongoing support from SHIP staff.

The program requires documented outreach and counseling attempts from its volunteers during each grant year.

SHIP coun-selors are committed to offer people free and unbiased information about Medicare.

What do SHIP Volunteers do?

As the number of people with Medicare who require informational assistance continues to grow, SHIP volun-teers play an important role in helping people on Medicare and others understand and navigate the many changes and informa-tion related to the program.

The SHIP program provides people with the tools and infor-mation they need to make the best decisions about their health care.

SHIP volunteers typically:• Help evaluate Medicare options• Make referrals to appropriate agencies• Help enrollees make informed decisions• Provide information counseling through one-on-one visits or telephone• Community outreach through presentations, health fairs and trainings

What services are provided?

We need YOU!

For more information on volunteering with SHIP contact Tommy Preston at 423-424-4252 or tpreston@sedev.org.