HICAP Program

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program

Get free help for Medicare beneficiaries who need assistance with understanding Medicare Rights and Benefits, supplemental plans, prescription drug coverage, long-term care policies, and help with billing problems and Medicare appeals.

Relevant Resources

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Who We Are

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a program of the Valley Caregiver Resource Center. HICAP is a State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) that counsels and advocates for Medicare Beneficiaries. HICAP counselors are registered with the California Department of Aging (CDA) to assist individuals and their families with free and unbiased Medicare counseling.

       

What We Do

HICAP provides free and unbiased community education and individual counseling to Medicare beneficiaries about the following:

• Medicare benefits and rights
• Medicare supplemental plans
• Medicare savings plans
• Prescription drug plans
• Medicare Advantage plans
• Long Term Care policy analysis
• Appeals and billing problems
• Medicare Fraud and Abuse

HICAP services are free for all people with Medicare.

Who We Serve

• Current Medicare beneficiaries
• Adult children and other representatives of Medicare beneficiaries
• People 65 years and over who are eligible for Medicare or are planning for retirement
• People younger than 65 who are eligible for Medicare due to disability
• People needing information on Long Term Care insurance
• People who feel that they may be victims of Medicare Fraud

Where Do We Serve

HICAP offers multiple counseling sites with community partnerships throughout Fresno and Madera counties. Call our office staff at (559) 224-9117 for locations and times to make an appointment.

Community Education Services

Fresno-Madera HICAP also sponsors in-depth workshops, seminars, panel discussions and community education forums on a variety of Medicare and health-insurance related topics. HICAP would be happy to discuss joint-participation with other health-based or senior groups in the area, including senior housing facilities. HICAP welcomes every opportunity to share Medicare information with groups as such:

• Professional associations
• Community groups
• Senior centers
• Unions
• Women’s groups
• Political clubs
• Benevolent organizations
• Any other interested group

Again, there is no charge for any HICAP service. Call our office staff at (559) 224-9117 for more information or to schedule a presentation.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunity Opens Up For Maderans

Do you enjoy helping people? Do you seek to make an impact? Becoming a HICAP Registered Volunteer Counselor may be for you! As a Registered HICAP Volunteer, you will help Medicare beneficiaries make choices about how they receive their prescription drugs and health care services. Here are some of the duties that HICAP Registered Volunteer Counselors fulfill:

• Counsel Medicare Beneficiaries
• Provide administrative support in the HICAP office
• Participate in outreach activities throughout your community
• Provide educational presentations to the public
• Work on special projects
• Distribute HICAP and Medicare brochures at health fairs and other community events

For more information, please call the HICAP Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Robinson at 559-224-9117 ext. 304.