State Offers Medicare Counseling for Seniors

Older Illinois residents considering changes to their Medicare coverage can get free help through the Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Health Insurance Program, known as SHIP. The program offers one-on-one health insurance counseling at about 300 sites statewide, supported by 1,000 certified counselors. State officials say 200 new SHIP counselors were trained over the past year to meet demand during Medicare open enrollment. That enrollment window runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Counselors can help older adults compare plans, review prescription coverage, and better understand available options before making changes.