The Virgin Islands State
Health Insurance Assistance Program (VI SHIP) is the Virgin Islands
local Medicare source, which is locally administered by the Office of
the Lieutenant Governor and federally funded by the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS). Currently, there are SHIP Offices in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. VI SHIP provides free information and personalized
or group counseling to persons with Medicare, family members, and
caregivers in the territory on:
Medicare
Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)
Long Term Care Insurance and Financing Options
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Billing/Claims Resolution Assistance
Referrals to the Appropriate Government or Community-based
Organizations.
Education and information are also provided to the general public by
trained counselors via public forums, workshops, health fairs, etc.
The goals of VI SHIP are to "assess, inform, advocate, protect, educate,
and empower" Medicare beneficiaries.
