Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
Through our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program we empower and assist Medicare
beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care
fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. SMPs are grant-funded
projects of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S.
Administration for Community Living (ACL).
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Our SHIP program is Alabama’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Our SHIP counselor
and volunteers are committed to helping you make informed choices regarding your Medicare
insurance benefits. Counselors and volunteers are not affiliated with any insurance company
and will not attempt to sell you insurance.
SHIP provides FREE education, counseling, and information concerning:
- Medicare
- Medicare Supplements
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Medicaid
- Prescription Drugs
- Plan Comparison
- Billing & Claims
- Rights & Protections
- Long-Term Care
Suspect Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse?
Get free help from your local Senior Medicare Patrol counselor at
1-800-243-5463.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with SMP, contact M4A at
205-670-5770.
Helpful Links and Resources
Learn more about our Annual Fraud Summit
SMP Annual Community Fraud Summit
- When
- Held annually across all 5 counties
- Target Audience
- Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers
- Cost
- Free — registration encouraged; includes complimentary lunch
Empowering seniors, caregivers, and communities to detect and report
scams.
Medicare fraud, identity theft, and sophisticated financial scams target older adults
every day. Recognizing these threats is the first step in stopping them. The Middle
Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A) hosts its Annual Community Fraud Summit across our
5-county region, bringing educational, resource-packed events directly to every county we
serve each year.
What to Expect
-
Expert Guest Speakers: Hear directly from fraud prevention
authorities, including the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC) and Senior Medicare
Patrol (SMP). Learn to spot recent scam trends and protect your personal information. -
Local Vendor Resources: Connect face-to-face with local community
partners, healthcare providers, and caregiver support networks. -
Actionable Strategies: Learn concrete steps to report fraud safely and
effectively if you or a loved one is targeted. -
Community & Fellowship: Enjoy a free lunch, participate in door
prize drawings, and connect with neighbors.
We partner with local venues, churches, and community centers to ensure these events are
close to home and accessible to everyone in Blount, Chilton, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker
counties.
Medicare Open Enrollment
Free Medicare Counseling
Meet with a trained SHIP counselor to review available options and receive FREE unbiased
help for all of your Medicare Open Enrollment needs. Sessions are held in Shelby, Walker,
Chilton, Blount, and St. Clair counties.
What to bring
- A list of all prescription medications
- Your Medicare card and any other insurance cards
Make your appointment:
(205) 378-4123 or
Ldavidson@m4a.org
Forms & flyer
All forms can be submitted by emailing
Ldavidson@m4a.org
2026 counseling sessions by county
Sessions run during Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 – December 7.
Shelby County
-
October 20
Wilsonville Town Hall
9905 North Main Street, Wilsonville, AL 35186 -
October 21
Elder Justice Center (EJC)
4804 Alabama 25, Montevallo, AL 35115 -
November 4
Elder Justice Center (EJC)
11101 Hwy 47, Montevallo, AL 35115 -
November 12
Chelsea Community Center
5521 Cahaba Valley Rd, Chelsea, AL 35043
Walker County
-
October 22
Jasper Civic Center
204 19th St East, Jasper, AL 35501 -
November 17
Capstone Parrish
5947 AL-269, Parrish, AL 35580 -
November 19
Jasper Civic Center
204 19th St East, Jasper, AL 35501
Chilton County
-
October 30
Clanton Public Library
100 1st Ave, Clanton, AL 35045 -
November 20
Clanton Public Library
100 1st Ave, Clanton, AL 35045
Blount County
-
October 27
Blountsville Public Library
65 Chestnut St, Blountsville, AL 35031 -
November 10
Oneonta Senior Center
101 1st Street South, Oneonta, AL 35121
St. Clair County
-
October 28
Pell City Public Library
1000 Bruce Etheredge Pkwy, Pell City, AL 35128 -
November 3
Steele Community Center
91 Hillview Street, Steele, AL 35987
Click the flyer to open a printable version.
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAP0058, from the
U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington,
D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express
freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily
represent official Administration for Community Living policy.