CHOICES Connecticut Medicare Counseling — Free SHIP Help for Seniors
If you are trying to help a parent navigate Medicare in Connecticut and do not know where to start, the single best free resource is CHOICES — the state's Health Insurance Assistance Program, part of the federal SHIP network. Every service is free, unbiased, and carries no commercial agenda.
What CHOICES Counselors Do
CHOICES is managed by the Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services in partnership with the five regional Area Agencies on Aging. CHOICES counselors can help with:
- Explaining Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, and Medicare Advantage options
- Walking through Medicare Savings Program applications (QMB, SLMB, ALMB)
- Reviewing DSS notices and renewal letters
- Comparing Part D plans during Open Enrollment
- Filing Extra Help/LIS applications
- Providing basic guidance on QMB billing protections
The central hotline is 1-800-994-9422. When you call, the system routes to your regional Area Agency on Aging based on your area code and telephone exchange.
The Five Regional Offices
Connecticut's CHOICES network operates through five Area Agencies on Aging, each serving a defined territory:
Southwestern CT Agency on Aging — 1000 Lafayette Blvd, 9th Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Phone: 203-333-9288. Covers Fairfield County.
Agency on Aging of South Central CT — 117 Washington Ave, Suite 17, North Haven, CT 06473. Phone: 203-785-8533. Covers Greater New Haven, Meriden, and Shelton.
Senior Resources — 19 Ohio Avenue, Suite 2, Norwich, CT 06360. Phone: 860-887-3561. Covers New London, Middlesex, Windham, and Tolland Counties.
North Central Area Agency on Aging — 151 New Park Ave, Box 75, Hartford, CT 06106. Phone: 860-724-6443. Covers Hartford County, Tolland, and Plymouth.
Western CT Area Agency on Aging — 84 Progress Lane, 2nd Floor, Waterbury, CT 06705. Phone: 203-757-5449. Covers Litchfield County, Waterbury, Danbury, and Naugatuck Valley.
What CHOICES Cannot Do
CHOICES counselors operate within defined boundaries. They cannot draft custom legal dispute letters for billing offices. They cannot manage multi-month premium refund tracking. They cannot act as formal legal representatives in DSS administrative fair hearings. And during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7), call volumes spike and wait times stretch.
For legal representation in MSP disputes or fair hearings, contact Statewide Legal Services at 1-800-453-3320 or the Center for Medicare Advocacy at 1-800-262-4414.
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When to Call CHOICES vs. When You Need More
CHOICES is the right starting point for any Medicare question — understanding your parent's coverage options, figuring out whether they qualify for the Medicare Savings Program, or getting help during Open Enrollment. But if your parent has been denied MSP benefits and needs to file a fair hearing, or a doctor's office is sending illegal QMB balance bills to collections, you need the legal resources that go beyond what a CHOICES counselor can provide.
The Connecticut Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide bridges that gap with step-by-step application instructions, dispute letter templates, and a renewal calendar — the administrative tools that pick up where free counseling leaves off.
Get Your Free Connecticut — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Connecticut — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.