A high intensity discharge lamp has a light transmissive envelope and an arc tube located within the envelope. The arc tube contains an arc generating and sustaining medium as well as electrodes. A flare is sealed to the lamp envelope and the flare includes two electrically conductive lead-ins sealed therein, each of the lead-ins having a given diameter. A mica heat shield comprising a planar mica disc frictionally engages the lead-ins, the mica disc having a pair of lead-in receiving apertures therein, the receiving apertures having a diameter greater than the given diameter and each having an oppositely extending, radial slot extending therefrom, each of the slots having a width less than the given diameter. The mica heat shield is positioned on the lead-ins closely and adjacent to the upper surface of the flare by having the slots in frictional engagement with the lead-ins.