The mission of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is to empower, educate and assist Medicare-eligible individuals, their families and caregivers through objective outreach, counseling and training to make informed health insurance decisions that optimize their access to care and benefits. There are currently 54 active SHIP grants: one in every state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The SHIP National Technical Assistance Center serves as a centralized and significant source of information, expertise, and technical assistance for SHIP state grantees. With this funding opportunity, ACL is seeking applicants for a single cooperative agreement to operate the SHIP National Technical Assistance Center (The SHIP TA Center).
ACL plans to fund one (1) cooperative agreement at the federal funding level of $1,350,000 per year, over a five (5) year project period, pending availability of federal funds.
The purpose of the SHIP grant program is to strengthen the capability of States to support a community-based, grassroots network of local SHIP offices that provide personalized counseling, education, and outreach to assist Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare questions. Grant funds are to be used to support locally accessible counseling services to individual beneficiaries in coordination with the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and community partners. Services provided by SHIPs are intended for Medicare beneficiaries who prefer or need information, counseling, and enrollment assistance beyond what they are able to receive on their own through other information channels, including 1-800-MEDICARE and www.medicare.gov. Grant funds from ACL enhance States’ efforts to support a network of local partners, programs, staff, and volunteers that will provide accurate and objective information to help beneficiaries understand and utilize their Medicare benefits.
Deadlines:
Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.
