The Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) empowers Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers to make informed health insurance decisions. Through free, confidential, and unbiased counseling, outreach, and education, we strive to maximize access to care and benefits for Hawaii’s older adult and disabled communities. Our mission is to ensure every resident has the support and knowledge needed to confidently navigate Medicare.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a trusted, nationwide resource created to help Medicare beneficiaries make informed decisions about their health coverage. Established under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, SHIP was designed to provide states with funding to offer free, unbiased, and personalized counseling on Medicare and related health insurance options.
Today, SHIP operates in all 50 states and four U.S. territories—including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—serving millions of Medicare-eligible individuals each year. SHIP counselors provide one-on-one support, host educational sessions, and offer guidance on everything from Medicare enrollment to Medicaid and other insurance options.
In 2014, SHIP was moved from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) under the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This transition strengthened SHIP’s connection to ACL’s national aging and disability networks and reinforced its mission to support older adults and people with disabilities through high-quality, community-based counseling services.
SHIP is managed by ACL’s Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling, ensuring the program remains a vital link in helping people confidently navigate their healthcare choices.
The SHIP logo was updated in 2017 to feature an illustration of the Makapuu lighthouse and light rays to reflect the assistance the program offers to its clients. The rays of light radiating from the lighthouse represent knowledge and a call to action for the clients of the program.
The Executive Office on Aging (EOA), an attached agency to the Hawaii Department of Health, received the first SHIP grant in 1992.
Since 2010 MIPPA has helped Hawaii’s kupuna who are low-income, rurally isolated, Native Hawaiian, or speak limited English to save on their medical and prescription drug costs. View brochure.
