Missouri State Health Insurance Assistance Program

09/06/2026

Take control of your alcohol use with Medicare. Part B covers alcohol misuse screening for adults (including pregnant individuals) who use alcohol but are not dependent on it. You can get this screening once per year with your primary care doctor.

If your primary care doctor or other health care provider determines you’re misusing alcohol, you can get up to 4 brief, face-to-face counseling sessions each year with a primary care provider.

These services are FREE if your doctor takes assignment. “Taking assignment” means your doctor charges the Medicare-approved amount for these services. If you have Medicare Advantage, you may need to see a doctor on your plan’s network.

Questions about your benefits? Need help finding a doctor who is in network or takes assignment? Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 or missouriship.org!

09/03/2026

Prostate cancer doesn’t play fair-- that’s why Medicare covers testing!

Medicare Prevention and Wellness Benefits cover prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests once every 12 months for men over 50 (starting the day after your 50th birthday).

This type of test is FREE if your doctor takes assignment. “Taking assignment” means your doctor charges the Medicare-approved amount for these services. If you have Medicare Advantage, you may need to see a doctor on your plan’s network.

Medicare will also cover a digital re**al exam once per year. You will pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a yearly digital re**al exam and for your doctor's services related to the exam. In a hospital outpatient setting, you also pay a separate hospital visit copayment.

Questions about your benefits? Need help finding a doctor who is in network or takes assignment? Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 or missouriship.org!

09/01/2026

It’s Healthy Aging Month! One of the best ways to stay healthy is to schedule your Yearly Wellness Visit. On this visit, you and your doctor will update your care plan, which is designed to prevent disease and disability.

You can:
· Review your medical history and update prescriptions
· Get routine measurements like height, weight, and blood pressure
· Get personalized health advice, a list of risk factors, and treatment options
· Get a cognitive assessment to check for signs of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

This visit is FREE if your doctor takes assignment. “Taking assignment” means your doctor charges the Medicare-approved amount for these services. If you have Medicare Advantage, you may need to see a doctor on your plan’s network.

Questions about your benefits? Need help finding a doctor who is in network or takes assignment? Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 or missouriship.org!

08/27/2026

Want to save money on your Medicare costs? SHIP can help! Our local team can provide information on programs to cut down on your health care costs. If you qualify, we can help you apply – and our services are always free.

08/26/2026

Awesome information!

Did you know your smartphone has a feature to screen calls? By following these steps you can cut down on all those annoying spam calls!

08/19/2026

Thank you to the new and returning partners who signed agreements recently.

Community Partners increase local access to Medicare education and assistance, and are critical to our mission! If you see a partner from your area, check out their website or Facebook.

New Partner
Maplewood City Hall & Richmond Heights

Returning Partners
Pulaski County Health Department
Central Missouri Community Action - Boone
West-Central Independent Living Solutions
Housing Authority Kansas City
Lebanon-Laclede County Library

08/18/2026

August is Immunization Awareness Month!

Medicare Wellness and Prevention benefits cover flu shots and other vaccines. Vaccines cannot prevent all illnesses, but they reduce the chance of serious illness or death from a disease by training your immune system to fight it.

Medicare Part B covers the following vaccines at no cost to you:
· Influenza (flu)
· Pneumococcal Pneumonia shots
· COVID-19
· Hepatitis B, if you are at high risk

You also have EXPANDED coverage for vaccines covered under Part D! Vaccines like the Shingles Vaccine, TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis/Whooping Cough) are now FREE under all Part D and Medicare Advantage plans!

Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 for more information.

08/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PWgr296XB/

We are now accepting applications for the OEP Customer Service Representative position. This is a Part-Time, Temporary position; therefore, it is not eligible for leave or insurance benefits.

Start Date: September 21, 2026

End Date: December 7, 2026, with possible extension to December 11th if warranted

Shift: Monday – Friday; 11 am – 4:30 pm with a 30-minute unpaid lunch

Pay Rate: $19.00/hour

View the full job description and apply via: https://www.indeed.com/job/customer-service-representative-part-time-temporary-e572343801bee3bf.

08/17/2026

New to Medicare? You have a FREE welcome gift—your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit!

At this visit, your doctor will review your medical history and ask you questions about your health. You can get your flu shot, pneumococcal pneumonia shot, and other vaccines you and your doctor agree on. You can also get certain health screenings, like:
· Height, weight, and blood pressure measurements
· BMI screening
· Vision test
· Screenings for your risk of depression and your safety at home

At this visit, your doctor can also talk to you about advanced directives and long-term care plans.

This visit is especially important if you do not have a primary care doctor, or you need to switch doctors!

These benefits are FREE if your doctor takes assignment. “Taking assignment” means your doctor charges the Medicare-approved amount for these services. If you have Medicare Advantage, you may need to see a doctor on your plan’s network.

Questions about your benefits? Need help finding a doctor who is in network or takes assignment? Contact Missouri SHIP at 1-800-390-3330 or missouriship.org!

07/14/2026

Thank you to the new and returning partners who signed agreements with Missouri SHIP.

Community Partners increase local access to Medicare education and assistance, and are critical to our mission! If you see a partner from your area, click the link and “like” or “follow” them.

New Community Partners:
Spiral Health Systems, Inc https://www.facebook.com/Spiral.homecare
Young at Heart Resources https://www.facebook.com/youngatheartresources

Returning Community Partners:
Lincoln County Council on Aging http://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountyCouncilonAging
Harrison County Health Department, Home Health & Hospice https://www.facebook.com/HCHDBethanyMO