The Health Assistance Partnership (HAP), a project of Families USA, partnered with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) on Medicare education, program development, and public education and policy initiatives until it ceased operations due to the loss of outside funding. HAP's policy capacity to identify and address the systemic issues affecting Medicare beneficiaries has been formally transferred to its parent organization, Families USA. If you would like to bring an issue that is affecting beneficiaries in your state to our attention, contact us at Families USA.
While the HAP website is not being updated, the HAP publications and resources below remain available to help you in your advocacy on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. Families USA's Medicare resources are also available here. If you are a Medicare consumer, we invite you to share your personal health care story with us at Families USA.
The 2010 State of the SHIPs report summarizes results of a survey of SHIP Directors. It identifies common needs and challenges facing the SHIP network, including a significant increase in the demand for services.
Visit our Check Your Skills archive and test your knowledge of various SHIP-related topics.
HAP's Collaborative State Project (CSP) tools are based on four years of experience. We have compiled a number of project implementation and management tools including A Practical Guide to Implementation.
Looking for an answer to a client's question? Check out our FAQ Resource Center, which is chock full of answers to questions from SHIPs across the country on a range of Medicare-related topics.
Getting Started: Things to Consider About the New AEP Schedule is a set of planning tools for SHIPs to use when considering how the new AEP schedule will affect their program operations, including volunteer recruitment, training, community outreach, and partnerships.
The Get Your Feet Wet packet provides a series of tools for new SHIP counselors. The packet can be shared during initial training or as a tool to screen prospective volunteers.
HAP's comprehensive Guide to Volunteer Program Development is designed to help you develop or expand your SHIP volunteer program in the areas of volunteer program planning, recruitment, training, management.
Helping SHIPs Help Medicare Consumers is HAP's public education resource for SHIPs to use when communicating with different audiences about the diverse range of services the SHIP network provides to Medicare beneficiaries.
The Making Informed Decisions: Navigating Medicare Advantage booklet is for Medicare beneficiaries who are considering joining an MA plan, and describes the different types of plans with a list of questions to ask.
Our Medicare Savings Programs Guide is a handy overview of the four MSPs with summaries of the programs' benefits, eligibility rules, and enrollment procedures.
Moving & Extending the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is our policy resource for SHIPs to use when informing and educating policymakers about the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
The five-piece Putting It Into Practice: Tools to Help QMB Clients toolkit equips SHIP counselors with the background information and practical tips they need to know to help their QMB clients resolve billing and access problems.
In the SHIP Certification Resource Center you will find a collection of best practices to help you learn more about SHIP certification, including the strategies that nine SHIPs are using to train and certify their volunteers.
