PA MEDI — Free Medicare Counseling in Pennsylvania (Formerly APPRISE)

What PA MEDI Is — and Why You Can't Find APPRISE Anymore

If you're searching for APPRISE, Pennsylvania's free Medicare counseling program, you'll keep hitting dead ends. In 2021, Pennsylvania rebranded APPRISE to PA MEDI — Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight. Same program, same network, new name.

PA MEDI is Pennsylvania's version of the federal SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Trained volunteers operating through 52 Area Agencies on Aging provide free, unbiased one-on-one counseling on anything Medicare-related — plan comparisons, enrollment periods, billing problems, appeals, and benefit eligibility.

The service is completely free. PA MEDI counselors are not insurance agents and don't sell plans. They're not affiliated with any insurer, and their advice has no financial strings attached.

What PA MEDI Counselors Can Help With

• Comparing Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans during Open Enrollment
• Screening for Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) and Extra Help eligibility
• Walking through a Healthy Horizons application
• Explaining a confusing DHS notice or SSA letter
• Reviewing a medical bill for potential QMB billing violations
• Navigating the PACE/PACENET prescription assistance enrollment

They can sit with you (in person or by phone) and go through your specific numbers — income, assets, Medicare coverage — to figure out which programs apply.

The Practical Limitations

PA MEDI is in high demand, especially during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7). Wait times for appointments stretch during those weeks, and counselors have limited availability year-round.

There are things PA MEDI can't do:

• Act as your legal representative — they can't sign forms on your behalf or represent you at a fair hearing
• Provide continuous case management — each appointment is a standalone session, not ongoing monitoring
• Gather documents for you — you need to bring your own bank statements, benefit letters, and notices

This is where preparation matters. Showing up with organized paperwork — income verification, Medicare card, recent DHS notices, a list of current medications — turns a 90-minute appointment into a 45-minute one.

How to Find a PA MEDI Counselor

Phone: 1-800-783-7067 (PA Department of Aging helpline — they connect you to your local Area Agency on Aging)

Online: The PA Department of Aging website lists local AAA offices by county. Each office coordinates PA MEDI appointments for its service area.

Book early. If you're applying for Medicare Savings Programs, schedule the appointment before Open Enrollment season starts so you're not competing with plan-comparison requests.

When You Need More Than Counseling

PA MEDI counselors handle education and guidance. If you're facing a denied application, a terminated benefit, or a provider who refuses to stop balance-billing, you may need legal assistance. The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) at 1-800-274-3258 provides free legal help for low-income Pennsylvanians with Medical Assistance and Medicare problems, including fair hearing representation.

For a structured approach to the full application — document checklists, net income worksheets, dispute templates — the Pennsylvania Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help & PACE/PACENET Guide fills the gap between what PA MEDI covers in a single session and what families need to manage the process independently.

See more Pennsylvania guides →