SHIP is a federal program that provides funding to states to counsel Medicare beneficiaries on coverage choices, eligibility, and costs. It’s overseen by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which provides grants to states that are then often distributed to local organizations providing services through paid and volunteer counselors.
A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care … found that a disproportionate number of Medicare-aged eligible adults live in localities without a nearby SHIP site. Median household income and educational attainment were also lower in areas without in-person SHIP services.
Source: The Incidental Economist