Mesa County RSVP

SHIP logo

What is SHIP?

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (or SHIP) helps Medicare enrollees navigate the Medicare system and provides free, unbiased and individualized information. Mesa County RSVP’s SHIP volunteer counselors do not sell insurance plans and are not compensated in any way.

SHIP is funded by donations from individuals and local businesses, as well as various grants, including Colorado Division of Insurance (DORA) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

News

Walk-In Thursdays

From 9 am to noon every Thursday, Medicare beneficiaries may come to our office with questions, billing issues, appeals, etc. without an appointment. Our counselors will be available to handle all of your Medicare needs.

New-To-Medicare 101 Presentation

The first 

Wednesday of every month

10 am to 12 pm

in our conference room. 

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Learn if, when, and how to enroll in Medicare from a trained and unbiased SHIP counselor.

Call to reserve your seat at

970-243-9839 ext. 1

 You can schedule Medicare Presentations at your event! 

Our highly trained Medicare counselors speak about Medicare, low-income assistance options, and/or Medicare fraud and abuse.

Send event details to shiphelp@rsvpgrandjunction.org.

¿SABÍAS? You can browse a Spanish-translated version of our Mesa County RSVP website  by clicking the three lines at the top right corner of any page and selecting “Español” from the options there.

Learning about programs like Medicare and Medicaid is often complicated enough in your native language, so we thought this might provide some extra help to our Spanish-speaking friends in the community.

Mexican flag Seleccione “Español” en el menú en la parte superior derecha.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)!

These programs were set up specifically to help low-income seniors and disabled members of our community. Schedule an appointment today!

Download Medicare Coverage of Preventive Services, the March 2022 guide published by The Medicare Rights Center. (307 kb PDF document)

Mexican flag Spanish translation available here.

How Our SHIP counselors Help

  • Explain and help people enroll in Medicare parts A, B, C, and D, Medigap policies and supplements
  • Offer individual, confidential counseling and public education seminars about Medicare
  • Help people enroll in Medicare low income programs
  • Assist individuals new to Medicare or new to Colorado
  • Help research and resolve Medicare bills and other issues
  • Educate people about Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse
  • Help with appeals and fraud/error resolution
  • Spanish-speaking counselors are available. Hay asociados que hablan español.
  • And more!

Key Points to Remember About SHIP

  • SHIP does not charge for its services
  • SHIP counselors are not compensated in any way for their counseling services, allowing them to provide you with completely unbiased advice that best helps you
  • SHIP helps you make informed choices about your Medicare
  • SHIP stays up-to-date and informed about the latest changes in Medicare
“I just wanted to thank you for all your help! You have been helping me for years. I wouldn’t have the glasses on my face, or been able to go to the Urologist, or have my Part B premiums paid, or hopefully be able to get my teeth fixed, if it had not been for all your help, time and knowledge. Please know that all your help has been deeply appreciated. THANK YOU!!!"
— Kathy K.

What is SMP?

medicare fraud
SMP - Senior Medicare Patrol

The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. Mesa County RSVP’s SHIP counselors are here to answer your questions. Advice is free, confidential and objective.

Medicare is complicated. So how do you identify healthcare fraud, error and abuse?

  • Fraud is false information given to receive payments for services not provided.
  • Error is a mistake that may be corrected after a call to your medical provider or supplier.
  • Abuse is a healthcare provider or supplier recommendation for services or equipment not medically necessary.

If you feel that you’ve encountered fraud, error or abuse, contact our office to speak with one of our counselors by calling 970-243-9839 ext. 1

Learn more about Medical Identity Theft. (link: SMPResource.org)

Download: “How to Read Medicare Statements” (PDF created by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services)

Our SHIP Counselors

Mesa County RSVP SHIP counselors

Who are SHIP counselors?

  • All counselors are volunteers, and are not paid or compensated in any way
  • They are all trained and certified through the State
  • They FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY on helping with Medicare-related issues
  • They DO NOT SELL any product or service
  • They DO NOT ENDORSE specific health plans

Seminar & Event Schedules

Learn about Medicare from the comfort of your home by watching our Medicare videos below. Afterwards, we invite you to let us know if our video presentations were helpful to you. Let us know how we can continue to make them even better by completing a short survey.

If you have any questions about these videos, please contact our SHIP Coordinator at 970-243-9839, ext. 1 or via email at shiphelp@rsvpgrandjunction.org. You will receive a response within three business days of receipt of your questions.

New-To-Medicare 101

Introduction to Medicare. You’re invited to attend our live, in-person presentation in the RSVP offices, or you may view this information at your convenience by clicking the button below.

Medicare 102

Secondary Health Insurance and Drug Plans. This information is presented on our YouTube channel. Click below to view.

Medicare 201

Current Medicare changes. 
This information is presented on our YouTube channel. Click below to view.

 

 

Grand Junction Main Library

Monthly information table

Last Thursday of every month
10 am – 1 pm

This project was supported in part by grant #90SAPG0060 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

Looking For Ways to Help?

Donations gratefully accepted

Donations

Your donations help RSVP strengthen our community by engaging volunteers ages 55 and over. Each volunteer placement provides community programs with essential support. Thank you for strengthening Mesa County! All donations to RSVP are tax-deductible.

In-Kind Donations

We accept in-kind donations. For more information about the types of items we accept, please email info@rsvpgrandjunction.org.

Become a Sponsor

Our sponsoring partners are an important part of our success. To contact someone from our Fundraising Committee, please email info@rsvpgrandjunction.org.