SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), formerly known as MMAP (Medicare Medicaid Assistance Program), is Michigan’s free, unbiased resource to help you navigate Medicare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older and some disabled people under 65 who have received benefits for at least 24 months.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state program, governed by the individual states. For adults without minor children, a person must be 65 or older, blind, disabled or be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
What are Medicare Parts A & B?
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance that helps pay for inpatient hospital care, limited care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care and hospice care. Medicare Part B is medical insurance that helps pay for physician services, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment and home health care (if not covered by Part A).
What is Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. If you decide not to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan when you’re first eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage, or you don’t get Extra Help, you’ll likely pay a late enrollment penalty. To get Medicare Part D drug coverage, you must join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered.
How can SHIP help me?
SHIP can help you find answers to important questions you have on Medicare Parts A, B, and D, Medicare supplemental insurance, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, and other health insurance issues.
What is the Medicare Open Enrollement period?
The Medicare Open Enrollment period is the time frame that qualifying persons for Medicare can enroll in a plan (if they are first-time enrollees), or re-enroll, either in their current plan, or in a new plan.
When is the 2026 Medicare Part D Open Enrollment?
This year’s Medicare Part D Open Enrollment runs from October 15, 2026, to December 7, 2026.
How can I determine which Medicare plan is best for me?
Please visit the medicare.gov website, or phone our Advocacy Department at (989) 732-9977 to schedule an appointment with one of our SHIP counselors.
I have been told if my spouse goes into a nursing home I will lose everything. Where might I call for more information?
Please call our Advocacy Department at (989) 732-9977 for the most current information.
SHIP Department Staff
Charles May – Advocacy/SHIP Counselor
Links
Home Care Michigan
Michigan Medicaid Program
Medicare
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) TTY 1-877-486-2048
Social Security Benefits
1-800-772-1213 TTY 1-800-325-0778
~Leo Buscaglia~