GeorgiaCares SHIP Counseling: Free Medicare Help in Georgia
What GeorgiaCares Actually Does
GeorgiaCares is Georgia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program — the state branch of the federal SHIP network. It operates through the Division of Aging Services and the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the state. The counselors are trained volunteers and staff who provide free, unbiased help with Medicare questions. No insurance sales, no plan commissions, no product pitches.
For families dealing with Medicare Savings Programs, GeorgiaCares counselors can:
- Walk through QMB, SLMB, and QI eligibility requirements using current income and asset thresholds
- Help complete Form 700 (the MSP application) and submit it to DFCS on the applicant's behalf
- Explain how the $20 unearned income disregard works and whether a parent's income falls under the limit
- Assist with Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy) applications through SSA
- Provide guidance on Part D plan selection during Open Enrollment — comparing plans by formulary and copay structure without steering toward any particular insurer
How to Reach GeorgiaCares
The statewide toll-free line is 1-866-552-4464 (choose Option 4 for Medicare counseling). You can also find your local AAA office at the GeorgiaCares website (mygeorgiacares.org) and request an appointment directly.
Counseling sessions are available by phone, in person at AAA offices, and at community sites like senior centers and libraries. In-person sessions are generally more productive for MSP applications because the counselor can review documents and help complete forms on the spot.
Timing matters. During Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7), GeorgiaCares counselors are overwhelmed with Part D and Medicare Advantage plan comparisons. If your question is about MSP eligibility or application help, try to schedule outside that window. The rest of the year — especially January through September — wait times are much shorter.
What They Can't Do
GeorgiaCares counselors don't have access to DFCS case systems. They can't look up application status, resolve Gateway portal issues, or override processing delays. Once your application is filed, case-specific questions go to DFCS directly (1-877-423-4746 or the county office).
They also don't provide legal representation. If a parent's MSP application is denied and you need to file a fair hearing appeal, GeorgiaCares can explain the process, but for representation at the hearing itself, you'd contact Georgia Legal Services Program or Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
Counselors can help with Form 700 applications and forward completed forms to DFCS. For a local appointment, contact the Area Agency on Aging that serves your parent's county; after filing, case-specific questions go to the county DFCS office.
Free Download
Get the Georgia — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
GeorgiaCares vs. Insurance Brokers
The distinction matters because Medicare-related search results are saturated with insurance broker ads — particularly "Medicare Giveback" campaigns targeting dual-eligible seniors. Those brokers are selling Medicare Advantage or D-SNP plans, which is a different decision entirely from applying for QMB or SLMB through DFCS.
GeorgiaCares provides unbiased Medicare counseling rather than insurance sales. Counselors help families understand available programs, eligibility, and application steps. For MSP applications specifically, they can help with Form 700 and forward completed applications to DFCS.
The Georgia Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide complements GeorgiaCares counseling by providing the structured preparation — income worksheets, document checklists, and the processing timeline — that makes a counseling session more productive and the application less likely to stall on missing information.
Get Your Free Georgia — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Georgia — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.