Referral & state help
Who else can help your client
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) (opens in a new tab)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state.
Refer when: Medicare enrollment, plan comparison, appeals and Medicare-related billing.
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) (opens in a new tab)
Helps people prevent, detect and report Medicare fraud and errors.
Refer when: Suspicious charges on a Medicare Summary Notice.
State insurance departments (NAIC directory) (opens in a new tab)
Regulators that take complaints about fully insured plans.
Refer when: A state-regulated plan is not following rules or deadlines.
Consumer Assistance Programs (CMS) (opens in a new tab)
State programs that help with private coverage problems and appeals (not in every state).
Refer when: Help filing a private plan appeal or complaint.
State Medicaid and CHIP offices (opens in a new tab)
Official contacts for each state's Medicaid program.
Refer when: Eligibility, notices, renewals and fair hearings.
Patient Advocate Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Nonprofit case management and financial aid programs for patients with chronic or serious illness.
Refer when: A client with a serious diagnosis faces cost or access barriers.
Long-term care ombudsman (Consumer Voice locator) (opens in a new tab)
Advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living.
Refer when: Quality-of-care or rights concerns in a care facility.
Eldercare Locator (opens in a new tab)
Federal service connecting older adults and caregivers to local aging services.
Refer when: Home support, transportation, caregiver help.
211 (opens in a new tab)
Free referral line to local health and human services.
Refer when: Food, housing, utilities and other social needs.
Find a Health Center (HRSA) (opens in a new tab)
Locator for federally funded health centers with sliding-fee care.
Refer when: Uninsured or underinsured clients needing primary care.
LawHelp.org (opens in a new tab)
Directory of free legal aid programs by state.
Refer when: Fair hearings, insurance disputes or medical debt suits needing a lawyer.
HHS Office for Civil Rights — complaints (opens in a new tab)
Where HIPAA and civil-rights complaints are filed.
Refer when: Denied record access or discrimination in care.
Sources checked November 7, 2026. Rules change — confirm with the official source before acting.