Guide
SHIP counselor or Medicare agent: who should you call?
Every state has a free, government-funded Medicare counseling program, usually called SHIP. Licensed agents also help for free. They aren't rivals: a counselor explains, an agent enrolls. Here's how to choose, and why many people use both.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026. General information, not advice about any plan.
Side by side
- Cost to you
- SHIP counselor: Free
- Licensed agent: Free (paid by the insurance company if you enroll)
- Who they work for
- SHIP counselor: Your state's program, funded by the federal government
- Licensed agent: Themselves or an agency, under contract with insurance companies
- Plans they cover
- SHIP counselor: Every option, including ones no agent sells
- Licensed agent: Plans from the companies they represent in your area
- Sells insurance
- SHIP counselor: No
- Licensed agent: Yes
- Enrolls you
- SHIP counselor: Helps you enroll yourself
- Licensed agent: Handles the enrollment with you
- Availability
- SHIP counselor: Can book up during fall enrollment
- Licensed agent: Often same week; many meet in person
- After you enroll
- SHIP counselor: Help with problems and appeals
- Licensed agent: Help with claims, changes and next year's review
When a SHIP counselor is the better call
- You want a second opinion on what an agent recommended.
- You think you may qualify for help paying costs, like Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program.
- You have a billing problem, a denied claim, or want to appeal.
- You have Medicaid too, or complicated coverage like retiree, VA or TRICARE benefits.
When an agent is the better call
- You want someone to compare plans from several companies for your exact doctors and drugs, and enroll you.
- You'd like to meet in person, soon, and have one person to call for years.
- You're choosing a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy and want prices from several companies.
Pick an agent who's licensed in your state and tells you how many companies they represent. You can check any agent's license yourself.
Using both
Plenty of people meet an agent to compare plans, then run the short list past a SHIP counselor before enrolling. A good agent won't mind. If one does, that tells you something too.
Common questions
Is SHIP really free?
Yes. SHIP counseling is free and unbiased. Counselors don't sell insurance and aren't paid by insurance companies.
Can a SHIP counselor enroll me in a plan?
Counselors can walk you through comparing plans and enrolling yourself, for example on Medicare.gov. They don't sell plans or earn commissions.
How do I find my state's SHIP?
Visit shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675. Each state's program may use its own name, such as HICAP in California.
Why would I use an agent if SHIP is free?
Agents are free to you too, and they can usually meet quickly, handle the enrollment for you, and stay with you year after year. SHIP offices can be busy during enrollment season.
Keep reading
- Medicare agent vs. broker: what's the difference?Agent, broker, producer: what the words mean, the one difference that really matters (how many companies they work with), and how to tell before you meet.
- What to bring to your first meeting with a Medicare agentA one-page checklist: the cards, doctor list and prescriptions an agent needs to compare plans for you, plus what you should never hand over.
- How to check an insurance agent's licenseLook up any agent with your state's insurance department, in about two minutes.
Ready to talk to someone local?
Search by ZIP code. Verified agents are listed first, and every listing is free to contact.