How to get free Medicare counseling through NC SHIIP in Cary and Wake County

If you are trying to understand Medicare options and live in Cary, Apex, Morrisville, or elsewhere in Wake County, you have access to a free counseling program run by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. It is called SHIIP, the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program, and it exists to help you sort through Medicare decisions without anyone trying to sell you a plan.

Quick answer

NC SHIIP provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling through trained volunteers and staff across all 100 North Carolina counties, including Wake. You can reach the program by calling 1-855-408-1212 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), emailing ncdoi.ncshiip@ncdoi.gov, or using the county counselor locator on the NC Department of Insurance website. The program covers Medicare Part A and B, Medicare Advantage, Medigap supplement plans, Part D prescription drug plans, Extra Help applications, and fraud awareness. It is free, and the counselors do not sell insurance.

What NC SHIIP actually does

SHIIP is a state program under the North Carolina Department of Insurance, supported by federal funding. Its job is education.

Counselors walk you through how Medicare works, explain the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, help you compare supplement or Part D plan options, and screen for Extra Help (the federal program that lowers prescription drug costs for people with limited income). The program also runs Senior Medicare Patrol outreach, which helps people identify Medicare billing errors and avoid fraud.

According to a 2025 NC Health News report, SHIIP counselors helped more than 69,000 North Carolina residents in one recent year, with the program credited for over $53 million in combined beneficiary savings. That is not money SHIIP charges for. It is estimated savings from helping people avoid duplicate coverage, find Extra Help, and make more informed plan choices.

How to find a SHIIP counselor in Cary and Wake County

There are three main ways to connect.

Online locator tool. Visit the NC Department of Insurance SHIIP page at ncdoi.gov and use the county lookup tool. Select Wake County and the site returns contact information for local counselors. This is the most reliable way to find current appointment availability in your area.

Toll-free phone line. Call 1-855-408-1212 during weekday business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can connect you with a Wake County counselor or answer basic questions on the spot.

Local community events. SHIIP volunteers have held education sessions at Wake County library branches, including the Cary Regional Library, and at senior centers in the area. The Cary Senior Center lists SHIIP among its community resources. These sessions often focus on Open Enrollment preparation or Medicare basics for people turning 65.

Events and schedules vary by season. If you want to attend an in-person session, check the event pages on the Wake County government website (wake.gov) or the Town of Cary website (carync.gov), or call the toll-free number to ask about upcoming sessions near you.

What happens during a counseling session

A typical SHIIP session is a one-on-one conversation with a trained counselor. Depending on where you are in the Medicare process, the session might cover:

• How Medicare Parts A and B work and what they cost
• how the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage are explained in educational sessions
• How Medigap (supplement) policies fill gaps in Original Medicare coverage
• Part D prescription drug plan options and how to compare them
• Whether you might qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program
• How to review your current coverage during Open Enrollment

Sessions are confidential. The counselor listens to your situation and explains how the options work. They can walk through Medicare's own plan comparison tools with you. They will not pick a plan for you or push you toward a specific company.

What SHIIP does not do

This part matters because the word "counseling" can mean different things depending on who is offering it.

SHIIP counselors are trained volunteers and staff, not licensed insurance agents. They do not receive commissions. They do not sell, endorse, or recommend any insurance product, plan, or company. They cannot enroll you directly in a plan or guarantee specific premium amounts.

If you need someone to handle an actual enrollment, file an appeal on your behalf, or give financial or tax advice, SHIIP is not the right tool for that. The counselors will often tell you when a question falls outside their scope and suggest where else to look.

That distinction matters. SHIIP can help you understand options and ask better questions. When you are ready to make a specific decision about a plan or product, you will want to speak with a licensed agent, broker, or financial professional who can look at your full situation.

How to prepare before your appointment

You will get more out of your session if you bring or have ready a few items:

• Your red, white, and blue Medicare card
• A list of your current medications, including dosages
• The name of your current Medicare plan or coverage, if you have one
• Any letters you have received from Medicare, Social Security, or an insurance company
• A rough idea of your monthly income, in case the counselor screens you for Extra Help
• Questions written down ahead of time

People often come in with one question and realize there are three others they had not thought about. Having your details in front of you helps the counselor give you specific, useful information rather than generalities.

SHIIP vs. working with an insurance agent

Both can be useful, but they serve different roles.

SHIIP offers free education. The counselors explain how Medicare works, help you compare options using official tools, and screen for cost-saving programs. They do not sell anything and do not receive commissions. They provide objective information.

An insurance agent or broker can sell you a specific plan and handle your enrollment. Many are knowledgeable. But they are usually compensated by the insurance carrier whose product they sell, and they may represent one company or several. Their recommendation reflects the plans they are authorized to offer.

A common approach people take: talk to SHIIP first to understand the landscape, then work with an agent if you want help enrolling in a specific plan. If you already have an agent you trust, SHIIP can still be a useful second perspective. And if you want a conversation where nobody has a financial incentive to steer you toward a particular product, SHIIP is the place to start.

When to reach out

SHIIP operates year-round, not only during Open Enrollment season (October 15 through December 7). If you are turning 65 soon, have lost employer coverage, have moved to a new county, or just want to review what you have, you can contact a counselor any time.

That said, the weeks leading up to Open Enrollment tend to be the busiest. If you want a one-on-one session in the fall, reaching out in September or early October gives you the best chance of getting an appointment that works with your schedule.

Other local resources in the Triangle

A few other places to know about:

Resources for Seniors , the Wake County Council on Aging partner, works with SHIIP to connect residents to Medicare counseling and can help coordinate access for people with mobility or transportation limitations.

Medicare.gov has its own plan comparison tool at medicare.gov/plan-compare. You can search by ZIP code and see which Part D and Medicare Advantage plans are available in your area. The 1-800-MEDICARE line (1-800-633-4227) also provides help with official Medicare questions.

The NC Department of Insurance regulates insurance companies and agents in North Carolina. If you need to verify a license or file a complaint about an insurance product or agent, that is the office to contact.

For a broader look at Medicare topics, including Medicare and Social Security basics, visit our hub page. If you have a question about your own situation, you can ask a question and we will point you toward the right resource. And for more local programs and official sources, browse our local resources hub.

CaryFixedIncome.com is an educational resource and does not sell insurance, provide individualized financial or tax advice, or recommend specific plans. When you are ready to make a Medicare decision that reflects your health, income, and household details, speak with SHIIP for neutral background and with a licensed professional who can review your specific situation.