Louisiana SHIIP Medicare Counseling — Free Help With Medicare Savings Programs

What SHIIP Does

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program — SHIIP, sometimes referenced as LaSHIP — is Louisiana's version of the national State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It operates under the Louisiana Department of Insurance, which matters: SHIIP counselors are not affiliated with any insurance company and receive no commissions. Their only job is to provide unbiased, free counseling about Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs, Medigap policies, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D prescription drug coverage.

For families navigating the Medicare Savings Programs in Louisiana — QMB, SLMB, and QI — SHIIP counselors can explain eligibility rules, help you understand whether a parent's income falls within the program limits, and walk you through the application process. LDH processes the state application, and SHIIP counselors can explain what the form asks and which documents to gather.

How to Reach SHIIP

Phone: 1-800-259-5300 (toll-free) or (225) 342-5301

Hours: Monday through Friday during business hours. During the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7), call volume spikes and wait times increase significantly.

SHIIP also operates through a network of trained volunteer counselors stationed at parishes across Louisiana. In-person counseling is available at many local Councils on Aging, senior centers, and community organizations. You can call the main line to find a counselor near your parent's parish.

What SHIIP Can Help With for MSP Questions

SHIIP counselors are well-versed in the Medicare cost-help landscape. They can:

• Explain the difference between QMB, SLMB, and QI and what each covers
• Help calculate whether your parent's income qualifies after Louisiana's income disregards are applied
• Clarify that Louisiana has no asset test for QMB, SLMB, and QI — a fact that many national sources get wrong
• Explain how MSP enrollment automatically triggers Extra Help with Part D prescriptions
• Help resolve QMB balance billing disputes when a provider bills your parent for Medicare cost-sharing
• Guide you through what to do when Medicare premiums keep being deducted after QMB approval

SHIIP is one of the few free resources that understands the intersection of Medicare and Medicaid well enough to give specific, accurate guidance on these programs.

What SHIIP Cannot Do

SHIIP counselors explain options rather than provide ongoing case management. For a pending application status, contact LDH. For legal representation on a denial, contact legal aid organizations like Southeast Louisiana Legal Services or Acadiana Legal Service Corporation.

They also don't sell insurance. If a "counselor" starts recommending specific Medicare Advantage plans or asking for your personal information to check eligibility through a third-party website, that's a broker, not SHIIP.

When to Call SHIIP vs. LDH

Call SHIIP (1-800-259-5300) when you need to understand your options, figure out which program to apply for, or get help with a billing dispute. Call LDH Medicaid Customer Service (1-888-342-6207) when you need to check the status of a pending application, update information on an existing case, or request a renewal form.

Both are free. SHIIP is your guide to understanding the system; LDH is your contact for working within it.

For a complete walkthrough of Louisiana's Medicare Savings Programs — eligibility, application, what happens after approval, billing protections, renewals, and appeals — the Louisiana Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide covers the full process.

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