Confused About Medicare?
We provide free, unbiased counseling to help you choose the plan that will be right for you now and in the future.
Our Promise To You
We will provide free, personalized support for Medicare & long-term care insurance for residents of Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Mendocino, and Lake Counties.
What We Offer:
Help evaluating and comparing Medicare plans, including prescription drug and Advantage plans
Review of cost-saving strategies, including application assistance for Medicare Savings Programs and Low-Income Subsidies
Advice on Medicare fraud protection, detection and reporting
Guidance on finding help paying for prescriptions
Guidance on appealing Medicare and Advantage Plan denials
Review of options for long-term care insurance coverage
Our Counselors Will Not:
Charge for any service
Sell any product
Make your decisions for you
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule an appointment?
Contact us at 707-526-4108 to arrange a 1-on-1 counseling session.Where can I find more information?
Email hicapinfo@sasnb.org or attend a group seminar.Can I volunteer as a Counselor?
Yes, we welcome volunteers. Contact the Program Manager or go to our Volunteer page for more details.
Did you know?
In 2022, 30% of seniors felt pressured by a broker or agent to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan they didn’t fully understand. (Kaiser Family Foundation)
57% of Medicare Advantage enrollees regretted their plan choice because it didn’t cover their preferred doctors or medications, often due to brokers misrepresenting the network or benefits. (AARP)
As a nonprofit program, our sole mission is to help you navigate your Medicare and long-term care insurance options.
We are not brokers, we are here to help.
Free, Unbiased Medicare Counseling, Advocacy & Education
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a program managed by Senior Advocacy Services of the North Bay. We offer comprehensive support to help you navigate Medicare with confidence.
HICAP was established in 1984 under the California Department of Aging. Supported by the Older Americans Act, the U.S. Administration for Community Living, and local agencies like the Area Agency on Aging and Senior Advocacy Services, HICAP is part of the national State Health Insurance and Assistance Programs (SHIP), a federal initiative to help beneficiaries understand Medicare and long-term care insurance. While funded by federal grants like CFDA 93.324, the views expressed by grantees may not reflect official policy.
HICAP counselors are authorized by the California Department of Aging to perform Medicare counseling.
Our counselors provide unbiased advice without endorsing or recommending any insurance products.
Important Dates
You Should Know
Important Dates You Should Know
Annual Enrollment Period:
October 15 – December 7
Advantage Plan Enrollment:
January 1 – March 31
Don’t wait to schedule your counseling appointment.
Want to learn more before booking an appointment?
We offer free, public educational events about Medicare, held in accessible community locations like nursing homes and libraries. Find out more below.
Medicare Resources
During your appointment, this is the content your HICAP Counselor will guide you through.
Get personalized results for the three lowest-cost Medigap plan companies using our exclusive access to national data.
Medicare Part D Drug Plan Finder
Find the three most affordable Medicare Part D prescription plans tailored to your needs using our detailed search through Medicare.gov.
You don’t have to do this alone.
This publication is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $494,537 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/ HHS, or the U.S. Government.