Volunteer Today!
Join the HICAP Team

Are you interested in making a difference in someone’s life?
Do you enjoy learning new things and meeting people?
Are you simply wanting to give back to the community?

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) provides free, unbiased, confidential help to Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. Whether you are new to Medicare, reviewing Medicare plan options, or have questions on how to use your Medicare, HICAP can help.
HICAP counselors are state-registered staff and volunteers offering one-on-one help based on your unique situations and needs. HICAP is here to help with any Medicare-related topic:
  • Eligibility and enrollment requirements
  • Medicare coverage options
  • Periods to enroll and change coverage and plans
  • Plan comparisons – benefits and costs
  • Help with paying for prescription drug costs
  • Coordination of benefits – Medicare and other insurance coverage
  • Troubleshooting billing issues
  • Long-term care insurance policies
Services are provided in our threshold languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese), Korean, and Farsi. Other available languages include Russian, Hindi, Gujarati.

HICAP Counselors are members of your local community who have been  trained and registered as Medicare experts. Many are volunteers and may even be someone you know.
To ensure HICAP volunteers have the knowledge and information needed to perform counseling and community outreach, each are provided education and ongoing support, including:
  • New counselor training and mentor program with seasoned counselors
  • Continual education on current, relevant Medicare topics
  • A support network of staff and volunteers with subject matter expertise
  • Satisfaction of knowing each is giving back to the community by helping people

HICAP Volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year providing help navigating Medicare to beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers.
Read inspiring stories from volunteers posted to California’s Aging Resource Guide.
Improving lives through volunteerism
Read how two volunteer HICAP counselors improve the lives of people they help.
❯ Read More
Make a difference through volunteering
Read inspiring stories from volunteers on how each became a volunteer and how serving and supporting older adults makes a difference in people’s lives.
❯ Read More

Why I Volunteer as a HICAP Counselor

Listen to why individuals chose to volunteer as a HICAP counselor:

Get involved with your community

I thought I could help others!

People are so appreciative of the work we do

Giving free unbiased information is incredibly important

Register your interest to become a HICAP Counselor!

HICAP serves a diverse population, and seeks volunteers from a wide variety of communities.

Volunteers are expected to commit 8-hours a month for counseling and 12-hours each year for continuing education. HICAP is a great opportunity for individuals retired from the workforce.

Please note: Persons who hold a current license to sell insurance or receive financial or other remuneration from any health insurer, including managed care plans or Part D plans, healthcare providers are ineligible.

HICAP does not sell, recommend, or endorse any insurance product.

Call (714) 560-0424 or (800) 434-0222 for HICAP volunteer information.

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This project 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 $666,178 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

This product is a result of a project funded by a contract with the California Department of Aging and administered by the Orange County Office on Aging.