19 Resources
Guardianship is part of North Carolina's health insurance counseling system, focused on enrollment, plan comparison, Part D drug coverage, appeals, and dual-eligibility help. The agency page lists divisions, regional offices, and how to make a request. Free for eligible older adults and their family caregivers in North Carolina. 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...
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Leadership is an official North Carolina state program for enrollment, plan comparison, Part D drug coverage, appeals, and dual-eligibility help. The agency page lists divisions, regional offices, and how to make a request. No fee for North Carolina seniors who meet income and program criteria. 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...
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Official North Carolina State Health Insurance Assistance Program operator. Real state agency providing free Medicare counseling. Verified via shiphelp.org. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. 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 North Carolina 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. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to call or browse.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Official federal Medicaid information. Eligibility, benefits, and state Medicaid program directory. Worth a call for anyone navigating Annual Enrollment, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or appealing a coverage denial. Counselors walk through specific plans by name, compare drug costs side by side, and flag Medicare Savings Program eligibility. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Free, confidential, and available to any North Carolina resident who...
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. Most questions can be answered online or by phone; there's no eligibility screening to call. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
National nonprofit helping older adults and people with disabilities navigate Medicare. Free helpline 1-800-333-4114. 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. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Free service; donations support but never...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Legal advocacy for Medicare rights, especially appeals and complex coverage issues. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. Drop-in help is available at most local offices; bringing the Medicare card and a list of prescriptions makes the visit faster. 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
Plain-language guide to Medicare from the Medicare Rights Center. Free questions answered. Built for older adults choosing between Parts A, B, C, and D — especially during the seven-month Initial Enrollment window. Counselors walk through specific plans by name, compare drug costs side by side, and flag Medicare Savings Program eligibility. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Open at no cost to North Carolina seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Empowers seniors to detect, prevent, and report Medicare fraud. Free help in every state. Useful for seniors 65+ enrolling for the first time, weighing Original Medicare against Advantage plans, or trying to lower drug costs. 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. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Social Security program helping pay Medicare prescription drug costs for limited income. 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. A neutral alternative to insurance brokers — no plan is recommended for commission. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
State Medicaid programs that help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for those with limited income. 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. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. 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. Helpful for retirees, family caregivers, and adults under 65 with disability who qualify after 24 months on SSDI. 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. Free of charge — no eligibility paperwork required to call or browse.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Federal Health Insurance Marketplace — for those not yet 65 or covering family members. Most relevant for low-income seniors who may qualify for Extra Help, QMB, SLMB, or QI without realizing it. 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, confidential, and available to any North Carolina...
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
CMS — federal agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Policy and updates. 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. Many users come away with a $40–200/month reduction in Part D drug costs they didn't know they qualified for. Open at no cost to North Carolina seniors and the families supporting them.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
NCOA's senior-focused Medicare planning hub with checklists and webinars. 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 neutral alternative to insurance brokers — no plan is recommended for commission. Free, confidential, and available to any North Carolina resident who needs the information.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
State Health Insurance Assistance Program for North Carolina. Free unbiased one-on-one Medicare counseling. Find your local SHIP via shiphelp.org. 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. One of the most-used resources for older adults without family help navigating the system. Open at no cost to North Carolina seniors and the...
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website
Official North Carolina Medicaid program. Eligibility, applications, and benefits information. 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 service; donations support but never gate access.
Statewide · Varies
North Carolina SMP — helps seniors detect and report Medicare fraud and errors. 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. No cost to older adults or the people helping them.
Statewide · Varies · Visit Website