Get free, unbiased Medicare help before you choose a plan
Nevada's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as Nevada SHIP, provides free one on one Medicare counseling. Counselors do not sell plans and are not paid by insurers, which is the crucial difference between them and a mailer.
The two decisions that cause the most regret later are the initial choice between Original Medicare with a supplement versus a Medicare Advantage plan, and skipping Part D when you have no current prescriptions. Both are worth an appointment.
Establish primary care in the first month, not the first emergency
New arrivals often go two or three years without a local doctor and then meet the system through an emergency department. Establishing primary care early means your records, medications, and history are in one place in the valley before you need them.
Ask whether the practice is accepting new Medicare patients, which specific plans they accept, and which hospital system they admit to.
- Bring your full medication list and your prior doctor's contact information
- Ask for records to be requested at the first visit rather than later
- Confirm the practice's after hours and weekend process
Transportation is the barrier people underestimate
Missed appointments in Henderson and Anthem are frequently transportation problems wearing a medical costume. Options include plan provided non emergency medical transportation, senior transportation programs, and paratransit for those who qualify.
Ask your plan directly whether rides to medical appointments are a covered benefit. Many Medicare Advantage plans include a limited number and most members never use them.
Caregivers and the aging network
Nevada's Aging and Disability Services Division and local aging network partners connect older adults and caregivers with meals, in home support, respite, and benefits counseling. Nevada 211 can route you to the current programs.
For long distance caregivers, the highest value thing you can do from another state is to make sure one local person, one clinic, and one pharmacy are the fixed points of contact.
Isolation is a health risk, not a mood
Social isolation is associated with worse health outcomes in older adults. In practical terms, a neighbor who notices is a clinical asset.
Safe Access Network's Community Health Connect events are built around exactly that kind of contact. They are free, they are held in familiar neighborhood venues across Henderson, Summerlin, and Anthem, and there is nothing to sign up for at the door.
Frequently asked questions
- Where can seniors get free Medicare help in Nevada?
- Nevada SHIP, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, offers free one on one Medicare counseling from counselors who do not sell insurance. Nevada 211 can connect you with an appointment.
- Does Medicare cover rides to medical appointments?
- Original Medicare generally does not cover routine transportation, but many Medicare Advantage plans include a limited transportation benefit. Call the number on your plan card and ask directly.
- How do I find a doctor accepting Medicare in Henderson or Summerlin?
- Ask specifically whether the practice is accepting new Medicare patients and which plans they contract with, since accepting Medicare and contracting with a particular Advantage plan are two different things.
- What help exists for caregivers in Clark County?
- Nevada's aging network offers meals, in home support, respite, and benefits counseling for older adults and their caregivers. Nevada 211 is the fastest way to reach current local programs.
About this guide
Written by Safe Access Network, a Las Vegas based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 42-3204411) working across Clark County. This guide is general information about navigating healthcare in Southern Nevada, not medical, legal, or insurance advice. Program rules and clinic availability change, so confirm details directly with the organization before you rely on them.
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