18 Resources
Run by the state of California, Get help with Medicare supports older adults with enrollment, plan comparison, Part D drug coverage, appeals, and dual-eligibility help. Find office contacts, downloadable forms, and program directories on the site. No fee for California seniors who meet income and program criteria. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Most questions can be answered online or by phone; there's no eligibility...
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Official California State Health Insurance Assistance Program operator. Real state agency providing free Medicare counseling. Verified via shiphelp.org. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Counselors walk through specific plans by name, compare drug costs side by side, and flag Medicare Savings Program eligibility. Free, confidential, and available to any California resident who needs the information.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Official US Medicare site. Compare plans, find providers, understand Parts A/B/C/D, and check coverage. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24/7. Useful for seniors 65+ enrolling for the first time, weighing Original Medicare against Advantage plans, or trying to lower drug costs. Counselors walk through specific plans by name, compare drug costs side by side, and flag Medicare Savings Program eligibility. Free service; donations support but never gate access.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Official federal Medicaid information. Eligibility, benefits, and state Medicaid program directory. Built for older adults choosing between Parts A, B, C, and D — especially during the seven-month Initial Enrollment window. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. Especially valuable for seniors getting pressure from Medicare Advantage sales calls or door-to-door enrollment pitches. No cost to older adults or the...
Nationwide · Online
Free unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. Find your state's SHIP for one-on-one help. Helpful for retirees, family caregivers, and adults under 65 with disability who qualify after 24 months on SSDI. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Open at no cost to California seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
National nonprofit helping older adults and people with disabilities navigate Medicare. Free helpline 1-800-333-4114. Built for older adults choosing between Parts A, B, C, and D — especially during the seven-month Initial Enrollment window. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. A neutral alternative to insurance brokers — no plan is recommended for commission. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Legal advocacy for Medicare rights, especially appeals and complex coverage issues. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. Especially valuable for seniors getting pressure from Medicare Advantage sales calls or door-to-door enrollment pitches. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Plain-language guide to Medicare from the Medicare Rights Center. Free questions answered. Useful for seniors 65+ enrolling for the first time, weighing Original Medicare against Advantage plans, or trying to lower drug costs. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. Especially valuable for seniors getting pressure from Medicare Advantage sales calls or door-to-door enrollment pitches. No cost to older adults or the...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Empowers seniors to detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud. Free help in every state. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. Most questions can be answered online or by phone; there's no eligibility screening to call. A first-stop for anyone confused by Medicare's Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Periods. Open at no cost to California seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Social Security program helping pay Medicare prescription drug costs for limited income. Built for older adults choosing between Parts A, B, C, and D — especially during the seven-month Initial Enrollment window. Online tools cover plan comparison; phone is faster for situational questions like spouse coverage or COBRA timing. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Open at no cost to California seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
State Medicaid programs that help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for those with limited income. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Online tools cover plan comparison; phone is faster for situational questions like spouse coverage or COBRA timing. A first-stop for anyone confused by Medicare's Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Periods. Free service; donations support but never gate access.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans by your prescriptions and pharmacies. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. Expect a 10–25 minute conversation depending on how detailed the situation is; bring a current med list to speed things up. A first-stop for anyone confused by Medicare's Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Periods. Free, confidential, and available to any California resident who needs the...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Federal Health Insurance Marketplace — for those not yet 65 or covering family members. Useful for seniors 65+ enrolling for the first time, weighing Original Medicare against Advantage plans, or trying to lower drug costs. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to call or...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
CMS — federal agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Policy and updates. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. Online tools cover plan comparison; phone is faster for situational questions like spouse coverage or COBRA timing. A first-stop for anyone confused by Medicare's Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Periods. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCOA's senior-focused Medicare planning hub with checklists and webinars. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Most questions can be answered online or by phone; there's no eligibility screening to call. Many users come away with a $40–200/month reduction in Part D drug costs they didn't know they qualified for. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
State Health Insurance Assistance Program for California. Free unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling. Find your local SHIP via shiphelp.org. Useful for seniors 65+ enrolling for the first time, weighing Original Medicare against Advantage plans, or trying to lower drug costs. Online tools cover plan comparison; phone is faster for situational questions like spouse coverage or COBRA timing. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to call or browse.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Official California Medicaid program. Eligibility, applications, and benefits information. Built for older adults choosing between Parts A, B, C, and D — especially during the seven-month Initial Enrollment window. Expect a 10–25 minute conversation depending on how detailed the situation is; bring a current med list to speed things up. A neutral alternative to insurance brokers — no plan is recommended for commission. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Statewide · Varies
California SMP — helps seniors detect and report Medicare fraud and errors. Helpful for retirees, family caregivers, and adults under 65 with disability who qualify after 24 months on SSDI. Most questions can be answered online or by phone; there's no eligibility screening to call. A first-stop for anyone confused by Medicare's Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Periods. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website