OSHIIP — Ohio's primary Medicare counseling resource
The Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) is Ohio's federally-funded, state-administered SHIP program. OSHIIP counselors are:
- Trained volunteers and staff overseen by the Ohio Department of Insurance
- Paid by federal grant — not commissioned by insurance carriers
- Available statewide, by phone, in person, or virtually
- Bilingual or with language access in many areas
OSHIIP does NOT sell insurance. They provide objective Medicare education and decision support — perfect for understanding your options before talking to a licensed agent, or for getting a second opinion.
What OSHIIP can help with
- Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C, D and Medigap
- Comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in your county
- Reviewing your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) during AEP
- Filing Medicare claims and appeals
- Applying for Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, and Medicaid
- Reporting potential Medicare fraud (coordinates with Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol)
How to reach OSHIIP
- Phone: 1-800-686-1578
- Website: insurance.ohio.gov
- In person: 1+ counselors in every Ohio county, often hosted at libraries, senior centers, hospitals, or Area Agencies on Aging
Ohio's 12 Area Agencies on Aging
Each region of Ohio has an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that coordinates services for older adults — including benefits counseling, Medicaid enrollment help, in-home support services, caregiver assistance, and connections to OSHIIP. Find yours at aging.ohio.gov or call 1-866-243-5678.
Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol — for suspected fraud
If you receive suspicious Medicare-related calls, mail, or notice billing for services you didn't receive, the Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helps investigate and report fraud:
- Phone: 1-800-488-6070
- Especially useful if your Medicare card number was compromised, or if you're receiving Medicare summary notices with services you didn't receive
Federal options
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048 — federal customer service line, 24/7. Best for verifying enrollment, billing questions, ordering replacement cards.
- Medicare.gov — official federal website with Plan Finder, benefit details, claims tools.
- Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 — for enrollment, IRMAA recalculations (Form SSA-44), and Medicare card issues.
Free help specifically for low-income Ohioans
- Ohio Benefits portal at benefits.ohio.gov — apply for Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help, SNAP, and other assistance in one place
- Your county Department of Job and Family Services — application assistance for Medicaid and MSPs
- Federally Qualified Health Centers — many Ohio FQHCs have benefits counselors who help with Medicare and Medicaid applications
Free vs. licensed-agent help
OSHIIP counselors and Medicare agents serve different purposes:
- OSHIIP: best for unbiased education, understanding your options, comparing across multiple carriers without sales pressure
- Licensed Medicare agents: best for completing actual enrollments, ongoing year-round support, and re-shopping plans annually during AEP
Both are free to you. Many Ohio beneficiaries use OSHIIP for education and a licensed agent for ongoing service.