Top Free Medicare Resources in Lincoln, NE

Lincoln is a good place to need Medicare help. The state's Medicare counseling program has an office downtown, the city's Area Agency on Aging has certified counselors on the east side, and the state agencies that handle Medicaid and insurance complaints are here too. Every resource on this list helps at no cost to you. Here's who does what, and when to call each one.

How did we choose and order these resources?

We included resources that help people in Lincoln and Lancaster County with Medicare at no charge, and we confirmed each address, phone number and service on the organization's own website or in state documents as of October 2, 2026. We ordered them by how directly they help you make a Medicare decision. No organization paid to be listed.

One-on-one counseling comes first, because a person who can look at your situation is the most useful help for most people. Plan comparison tools come next, then the agencies that handle enrollment, Medicaid, veterans' care, fraud and complaints.

Which Lincoln resource should you contact first?

It depends on what you need. Use this table to skip the phone tree:

The 2027 Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Counselors get busy fast in that window, so call early.

What can Nebraska SHIP and Aging Partners do for you?

Both give unbiased, one-on-one Medicare counseling, with no sales pitch and no cost to you. Nebraska SHIP (formerly SHIIP, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program) is part of the Nebraska Department of Insurance. Its certified volunteers help with Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, Part D and fraud questions. SHIP doesn't sell insurance or endorse any company, product or agent.

• Statewide: 1-800-234-7119, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central, or [email protected].
• Lincoln office: 1526 K Street, Suite 201, 402-471-2841.

Aging Partners is Lincoln's Area Agency on Aging. Its financial counselors are certified SHIP counselors who help people 60 and older with Medicare plans and low-income Medicare benefits. It moved in May 2023 to Victory Park, a 58-acre campus on the old VA hospital grounds at 600 S 70th St, which also has a senior center, a foot and health assessment clinic staffed by the UNMC College of Nursing, and StarTran bus service. Call 402-441-7070 or 800-247-0938, and make an appointment.

Our page on SHIP, Aging Partners and licensed agents explains how their roles differ.

How do you get the most out of Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE?

Have your Medicare card, your list of prescriptions with doses, your pharmacy and your doctors ready before you start. Those four things drive almost every plan comparison.

On Medicare.gov's Plan Finder, 2027 plans have been posted since October 1, 2026, and 2027 Star Ratings appear on or around October 8. Enter your ZIP code and drugs to see estimated yearly costs for every plan in Lancaster County, which has 26 standard Medicare Advantage plans and 15 special needs plans for 2027. The Medigap search shows supplement price estimates by ZIP code too.

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. If you'd like to compare doing it yourself with working with someone, see a local agent vs Medicare.gov vs a call center.

Where do you go for Medicaid, Extra Help and Social Security?

These programs are run by government agencies, not by Medicare plans or agents. Here's where each one lives:

• Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs: apply with Nebraska DHHS through iServe Nebraska, or call (855) 632-7633 toll-free or (402) 473-7000 in Lincoln. A Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026). See Medicare Savings Programs in Nebraska.
• Extra Help with drug costs: apply through Social Security. The 2026 income limits are $23,940 for one person and $32,460 for a married couple. See Extra Help.
• Medicare sign-up and IRMAA appeals: Social Security handles Part A and B enrollment and reviews requests to lower IRMAA after a life-changing event. Use the ssa.gov office locator for your ZIP code.

What if you're a veteran in Lincoln?

The Lincoln VA Clinic is at 420 Victory Park Drive, on the same campus as Aging Partners. It offers primary care, mental health, lab, Express Care and whole health services on weekdays, as part of the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System.

VA health care and Medicare are separate programs, and many veterans use both. How they fit together depends on where you get care and whether you want coverage outside the VA. Our guide to Medicare for veterans walks through the choices.

How do you report Medicare fraud in Lincoln?

Call Nebraska SMP, the Senior Medicare Patrol, at 1-800-234-7119. It works alongside Nebraska SHIP and helps you read your Medicare Summary Notice, spot charges you don't recognize and report them.

Never give your Medicare number to someone who calls you out of the blue, even if they say they're from Medicare. Read Medicare scams in Nebraska for the common ones. To check whether an agent is licensed, use the Nebraska Department of Insurance's online lookup, or call its complaint line at 877-564-7323.

Where does a local licensed agent fit?

Counselors and Medicare.gov are great for unbiased education. A licensed agent adds something different: side-by-side comparisons of specific plans from the companies the agent represents, help enrolling, and a check-in every fall when plans change. Agents are paid by the insurance companies, so you pay the same premium either way. How Medicare agents get paid explains the details.

My office is on South 68th Street Place, a few minutes from Victory Park. If you'd like to sit down with your medications and doctors and go through your 2027 options, talk to me. I don't offer every plan in your area, so Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE and Nebraska SHIP are always there for a second look. Before any review, use what to bring to your Medicare review.