396-402-06-1900-0000 Grant# 90SAPG0102-05-03

2020 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Basic Grant 5 years funding for the IL Department on Aging, Senior Health Insurance Program YEAR 5 NO-COST EXTENSION.

Section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 1396b-4) and Title II of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014

No reference available

No reference available

To empower, educate and assist Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers through objective outreach, counseling, and training, to make informed health insurance decisions that optimize access to care and benefits. The purpose of this grant is to strengthen the capability of local SHIP offices in their efforts to support the community as they perform personalized counseling, education, and outreach to help achieve the program mission.

Yes

Awards shall be made by geographic regions consistent with the 13 Planning and Service Areas (PSA) set forth by the Illinois Department on Aging. See Illinois Area Agencies on the Aging map available at https://www.illinois.gov/aging/partnersProviders/Pages/aaa_map.aspx Entities in PSAs 1-13 may apply for this award. An eligible applicant must be a certified SHIP site for the State of Illinois and the site must be registered as an active site on SHIP Data Tracking and Reporting System (STARS) for the purpose of counseling and/or monitoring work performed. Applicants must be structed to award sub-awards to all SHIP sites in good standing with SHIP. For purposes of this grant, "Good Standing" means there is a SHIP Coordinator and/or SHIP Counselor(s) who actively perform SHIP counseling and/or outreach; actively report beneficiary contacts including group or media outreach education in STARS and demonstrates service to a minimum of 25 client contact (or more) within the reporting period of April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025. New SHIP sites meeting requirements for eligibility shall be offered a grant and are listed on the chart provided as an attachment to this funding opportunity. Any SHIP site opened since April 1, 2024 may be offered additional funding exceeding the $2,500 maximum award toa id in staffing and/or equipment to build the site's ability to serve a greater client base, promote and advertise the new site location, contact information and services offered, and to adequately prepare for the Medicare Open Enrollment period. Funds may also be utilized for staff/volunteer travel to training sessions, SHIP Fall conferences, outreach events, and other travel related to serving client and/or beneficiaries. I. The first objective of this funding opportunity is to demonstrate how funds received will be used to enhance the SHIP local network through outreach efforts, one-on-one counseling, and partnership building such as issuing sub awards to SHIP sites in the applicable PSA. Funds are to be used to support locally accessible counseling services and efforts to meet the below identified SHIP objectives of this grant. GRANTEES SHALL: a. Provide funding to all eligible SHIP sites within the applicable PSA. A list of eligible SHIP sites is provided with the Notice of Funding Opportunity package. Eligible SHIP sites are those that have had at least 25 client contacts within the time period of April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025. A SHIP site ineligible per the provided eligibility list, but ineligibility was due to STARS reporting restrictions, may be approved for a subgrant; however, the grantee must note the exception in the grant application with the sub-grant listing. Any SHIP sites, newly opened/reopened as of April 1, 2024, may be awarded additional funding for site start-up costs exceeding the $2,500 maximum award. These funds should be utilized to aid in securing staffing and/or equipment to build the site's ability to serve a greater client base; promote and advertise the new site location, contact inforamtion and services provided; and adequately prepare for the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Funds may also be utilized for staff/volunteer expenses related to travel for training sessions, SHIP Fall conferences, outreach events or other travel related to service clients and/or beneficiaries. Explanation for additional funding MUST be included in the grant application narrative and budget sections of the application. b. Sub-grant to local SHIP sites to provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive counseling and assistance. c. Educate local SHIP sites on the latest changes in Medicare plans and advise clients on the various types of Medicare coverage such as Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans. d. Support local SHIP sites as they provide beneficiaries access to enrollment assistance through the locally based SHIP sites performing Medicare plan analysis and enrollment via Medicare.gov website tools. e. Support local SHIP sites as they counsel beneficiaries on their retiree insurance benefits or Medicare supplement insurance policies, including performing Medicare supplemental policy quotes on the Medigap Plan Finder. f. Support local SHIP sites as they are assisting beneficiaries with enrollment in the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program by using the on-line application through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. g. Support local SHIP sites to assist beneficiaries with the Medicare Savings Program application located on the Application for Benefit Eligibility website (ABE system) at https://www.abe.illinois.gov/abe/access. h. Support local SHIP sites assisting beneficiaries in determining which forms of coverage best meet an individual’s coverage needs (for example, considerations relative to enrollment in Medicaid with a spend down or changing Medicare drug plans to save the beneficiary additional out-of-pocket expenses) utilizing innovative approaches to enhance beneficiaries' understanding of all programs, coverages and how each interact and impact the lives of the beneficiaries. i. Support local SHIP sites to conduct outreach (in person, virtually via Zoom, Skype, WebEx, etc.) to educate Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers about choices for Medicare coverage and their Rights and Guarantees under Medicare law; and promote awareness of the SHI program through locally based media, radio and website public service announcements, and social media platforms such as Facebook or X (formerly Twitter). j. Footnote all materials developed with this grant, i.e. flyers, brochures, pamphlets, PowerPoint presentations, social media, etc. as ACL, as the funding source as such: "This publication/project/program/website, etc. 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 $1.5 Million with 100% 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.”. k. Recruit volunteers by working with the local site SHIP coordinator, collecting, and submitting the screening applications to SHIP staff, and monitoring for adequate staffing of the local sites. Potential counselors can be non-paid volunteer staff and/or paid staff and will be screened by the SHIP administration at IDoA. l. Monitor sub-grantees at local SHIP sites using the SHIP data tracking system and report findings in programmatic reports to SHIP. Utilize the GATA Programmatic Report forms and instructions found on the Amplifund system and submit reports into this system, the Grantee shall (i) Ensure sub-grantees report all counseling activity and outreach in STARS; (ii) Monitor reporting monthly by running advance searches through STARS on each sub-grantee; (iii) Report technical issues, trends and best practices to SHIP in Monthly Programmatic Report for all sub-grantees; (iv) Monitor sub-grants with local sites reporting monthly expenses incurred to SHIP by utilizing the GATA Fiscal Report forms and instructions found on the GATA/Amplifund website. II. A second objective of this funding opportunity provides Grantee shall monitor for compliance with ACLs’ Policy 3.38 - 3.40 (SHIP MANUAL) - Criminal background checks of all SHIP sites within the grantee's geographical area. Criminal record searches are to be conducted upon hire, and and/or as a part of the SHIP certification process. It is best practice to repeat background checks on a regular basis of all SHIP-certified staff (coordinators, counselors, and volunteers), applying/working/promoted into a “position of trust”. Position of trust” includes any position in which the SHIP staff are in contact and/or have access to confidential information via any type of electronic devices, physical documentation, phone, or direct contact with SHIP clients. A copy of the Volunteer Risk and Program Management manual is provided to and included as an attachment in the Question Submission Information Section of the Notice of Funding Opportunity to be shared will all funding recipients. This manual provides information received from ACL on a nationwide move to increase volunteers, how to retain volunteers and how to protect clients and counselors through criminal background checks. This applies to both paid and unpaid SHIP counselors. All approved grant recipients shall receive a listing of SHIP sites and corresponding SHIP counselors in their geographical area to use in monitoring criminal background check compliance.

Nonprofit Organizations;

All certified SHIP sites in good standing with the Illinois Department on Aging SHIP who are actively reporting in STARS.

This funding opportunity does not apply to beneficiaries

Project Grants

Human Services

Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with Part 75 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) signed and dated by the Grants Management Officer.

Applications must be received at the Department via email by the due date and time listed in the NOFO in order to be considered for award. Applications received after that time shall not be considered eligible for award.

A review panel of at least three individuals will evaluate applications that pass the screening and meet the responsiveness criteria. These reviewers are experts in their field and are drawn from the current Illinois Department on Aging staff. Based on the application review criteria the reviewers will comment on and score the applications, focusing their comments and scoring decisions on the identified criteria. Final award decisions will be made based upon a point system. In making these decisions, the SHIP Director will take into consideration recommendations of the review, of reviews from programmatic and grants management compliance, and the likelihood that the proposed project will result in the benefits expected.

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award (NoA) signed and dated by the Grants Management Officer. A Uniform Grant Agreement will be sent to Grantee following the NOA.

Submissions shall be electronically received at the e-mail address listed in section IV. a., by 4:00 p.m. on September 30, 2025

30 days

Appeals are processed in accordance with the HHS regulations in 45 CFR Part 1321, and Section 2112 of Title 28, U.S.C.

No renewals available.

N/A

Funding shall be used exclusively for SHIP activities. Awarded grantees shall be responsible for ensuring sub-grantees are using funds for SHIP purposes only. Grantee shall terminate immediately any sub-grantees that have been determined to have used funds for any non-SHIP related expenses. SHIP related expenses shall include, but not be limited to, staffing costs, office space, materials, supplies, travel, equipment, training, and consultant services. Expenses excluded include, research and development, and construction as defined in the Uniform Budget Template. Any expenses associated with the application process, pre-award costs, or any work performed prior to period of performance in the Notice of Award (NOA) shall not be payable under the resulting grant. Meal expenses are NOT covered under this grant unless they are a necessary part of a conference or working meal where business is transacted.

Applicants should review the individual funding opportunity announcement for information on programmatic and evaluation reporting requirements. Submit monthly fiscal program reports via the GATA System.

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In accordance with the provisions of Subpart F-Audit Requirements, under 45 CFR Part 75.500, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year. Except as noted in 45 CFR Part 75.500.

Records must be kept available for 3 years after submission of the final expenditure report

396-402-06-1900-0000

FY2025: $769,660.61

to be determined

N/A

Applicants should refer to the funding opportunity announcement for applicable regulations, guidelines and literature.

N/A

Administration for Community Living, Office of Health Insurance and Counseling, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201 Margaret.Flowers@acl.hhs.gov 202-795-7315

http://www.acl.hhs.gov

93.324 State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Base Grant

Funding opportunities similar to this one have been performed in the past with similar deliverables.

9/4/2025

FY 2022 : $1,530,605
FY 2025 : $769,661