Most seniors only know about Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE. There's a whole network of free help out there for things Medicare itself does not handle well: comparing plans, applying for benefits, fighting denials, finding low-cost drugs, and finding low-cost care. Here are 10 worth bookmarking.
1. Medicare.gov
The official Medicare website. The most useful tools are:
- Plan Finder: Compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans by zip code and personal drug list
- Care Compare: Look up quality ratings on doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies
- Medicare & You handbook: The official annual guide, free to download or order in print
The Plan Finder is the most powerful tool on the site. Enter your zip code, your drug list, and your preferred pharmacies, and it shows you exactly what each plan costs you per year. This is the same tool Medicare agents use.
2. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
The official Medicare phone line. Available 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Use this for:
- Replacing a lost Medicare card
- Questions about Medicare benefits
- Filing complaints against a plan
- Reporting fraud
- Finding local resources
Wait times vary. Mornings on Monday and Tuesday are usually the worst. Friday afternoons and weekend mornings are usually quickest.
3. SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program)
SHIP is the most underused Medicare resource in America. Every state has a SHIP program that provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. The counselors are usually trained volunteers or state employees.
SHIP counselors help with:
- Comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans
- Applying for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
- Filing appeals
- Understanding bills
- Resolving plan disputes
SHIP is free and never tries to sell you anything. Find your state's SHIP at shiphelp.org or call 1-877-839-2675.
4. BenefitsCheckUp.org
Run by the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Enter your information and it screens you for over 2,000 benefits programs in your area, including:
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Extra Help with Part D
- SNAP food assistance
- LIHEAP heating help
- State pharmaceutical assistance
- Property tax relief
A typical senior who uses BenefitsCheckUp finds 4 or 5 programs they qualify for that they didn't know about. Free to use, takes about 20 minutes.
5. ssa.gov/extrahelp
The Social Security Administration handles Extra Help, the low-income subsidy for Medicare Part D. Apply here:
Extra Help drops your drug copays to $1.55 for generics and $4.60 for brand names in 2026. The application takes 15 minutes. Income limits expanded in 2024, so more people qualify than ever. See our Extra Help guide.
6. Your state Medicaid office
Your state Medicaid office processes applications for Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) plus full Medicaid for those who qualify. These programs pay your Part B premium and sometimes cover deductibles and copays.
To find your state's office, search "[your state] Medicaid" or call 1-800-MEDICARE. See our Medicare Savings Programs guide.
7. State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs)
About 18 states have State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs that help with drug costs for people who don't qualify for federal Extra Help. Eligibility and benefits vary widely by state.
Find your state's program at medicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistance-program or call your state's Department of Aging.
8. NeedyMeds.org and RxAssist.org
These two sites are clearinghouses for prescription drug assistance. They list:
- Manufacturer Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) for specific drugs
- Copay coupons
- State and local prescription help
- Discount cards
If you take a specific expensive drug, search the drug name on both sites. Many name-brand drugs have manufacturer programs that drop the cost to $0 or $25 a month for qualifying patients.
9. Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
The PAF helps patients dealing with insurance denials, claim disputes, and access-to-care issues. Free services include:
- Case management for complex medical situations
- Insurance appeals help
- Copay relief funds for specific conditions
- Coordination of care between providers
Visit patientadvocate.org or call 1-800-532-5274.
10. Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Every county in the US has an Area Agency on Aging. They are a one-stop shop for senior services:
- Meals on Wheels delivery
- Transportation programs
- In-home care services
- Caregiver support
- Senior centers and activities
- Legal help for seniors
Find yours at eldercare.acl.gov or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Bonus: An independent Medicare agent
The 11th resource that ties them all together: an independent Medicare agent. A good independent agent knows about most of the programs above and will screen you for them as part of your annual review. The service costs you nothing because carriers pay the agent, not you.
An independent agent is not biased toward any one carrier and helps you for life, not just at enrollment. See our guide on independent Medicare agents.
How to use these resources
Most seniors only use one or two of these. The smart play is to know which one fits which problem:
- Comparing plans: Medicare.gov Plan Finder, then SHIP for help
- Lowering costs: BenefitsCheckUp to screen for everything you qualify for
- Drug costs: NeedyMeds, RxAssist, plus ssa.gov/extrahelp
- Denied claims: Patient Advocate Foundation, plus SHIP
- Home care or meals: Local Area Agency on Aging
- Long-term plan help: Independent Medicare agent
The bottom line
Medicare is bigger than just your card. The system has dozens of supports built in for seniors who know where to look. Bookmark these 10 and you have the toolkit to handle just about any Medicare problem that comes up.
