Health Insurance Assistance

American Association of Retired Persons

601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
Telephone: (800) 424-3410
Home page: www.aarp.org

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of persons age 50 and older. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Services, Inc. (ASI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of AARP, manages a range of products and services for AARP members. ASI develops new products and services that reflect the changing needs and interests of AARP members. Among the programs ASI manages are: Medicare supplement, long-term care, automobile/homeowners and life insurance, and member discounts and savings on prescription drugs, eye-health services and eyewear products.

BenefitsCheckUp

Home page: www.benefitscheckup.org

The BenefitsCheckUp is the nation’s most comprehensive online service to screen for federal, state and some local private and public benefits for adults age 55 and older. It contains more than 1,100 different programs from all 50 states. On average, there are 50 to 70 programs available to individuals per state.
In addition to identifying the programs that a person may be eligible to receive, BenefitsCheckUp also provides a detailed description of the programs, local contacts for additional information, and materials to help a person successfully apply for each program.

Cancer Care, Inc.

275 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 302-2400 (services) or (212) 221-3300 (to speak with a cancer care social worker) or (800) 813-HOPE (800-813-4673) (counseling line)
Fax: (212) 712-8495
Home page: www.cancercare.org

Cancer Care, Inc., is a social service agency that helps patients and their families cope with the impact of cancer. Services include professional counseling, financial assistance, information and referral, education programs, and insurance counseling—at no cost to the client. Direct services are limited to the greater New York metropolitan area, but callers will be referred to similar assistance available in their areas.

Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.

P.O. Box 350
Willimantic, CT 06226
Telephone: (800) 262-4414 (in Connecticut) or (202) 216-0028 (in Washington,
D.C.) or (860) 456-7790 (all other locations)
Fax: (860) 456-2614
Home page: www.medicareadvocacy.org

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., is a private, nonprofit organization that provides education, advocacy, and legal assistance to help elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary health care. The center focuses on the needs of Medicare beneficiaries, people who have chronic conditions, and those in need of long-term care. It is involved in education, training, and litigation activities of importance to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide. Advice, written materials, and legal services are available free of charge to Connecticut residents; nonresidents can pay a fee to obtain this assistance. A complete list of the organization’s publications and products is available upon request. The center represents thousands of individuals each year in appeals of Medicare denials, particularly for home health care.

Federal Employee Health Benefits Program

United States Office of Personnel Management
1900 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20415-0001
Telephone: (202) 606-1800
TTY: (202) 606-2532
Home Page: www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.htm

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering almost 9 million people including employees, annuitants, and their family members, as well as some former spouses and former employees. The FEHB Program offers fee-for-service plans, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), and plans offering a Point of Service (POS) product.

Health Insurance Association of America

Suite 500
1201 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1204
Telephone: (202) 824-1600
Home page: www.hiaa.org

The Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) is the nation’s most prominent trade association representing the private health care system. Its more than 300 members provide health, long-term care, dental, disability, and supplemental coverage to more than 123 million Americans.
Insure Kids Now!

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Telephone: (877) KIDS NOW (877-543-7669)
Home page: www.insurekidsnow.gov

Insure Kids Now! is a national campaign to link the nation’s 10 million uninsured children—from birth to age 18—to free and low-cost health insurance.

Medicare

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Telephone: (800) MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
TTY/TDD: (877) 486-2048
Home Page: www.medicare.gov

Medicare is a health insurance program paid for by the federal government for people 65 years of age and older; some people younger than 65 who have disabilities; and people who have permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant (end-stage renal disease).

Medicaid

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Telephone: 877 (267-2323)
TTY: 866-226-1819
Check the Government listings in your telephone directory or call Directory Assistance to locate your state/regional Medicaid office.
Home page: http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/consumer.asp

Medicaid is an insurance program for certain low-income and needy people that is paid for by both the federal and state governments. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners

2301 McGee Street, Suite 800
Kansas City, MO 64108-26042662
Telephone: (816) 842-3600
Fax: (816) 783-8175
Home page: www.naic.org

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is an organization of insurance regulators from all states. The NAIC Web site provides a link to each state’s insurance regulator, who may be able to help resolve insurance problems and answer questions.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

9000 Rockville Pike
31 Center Drive - MSC 2580
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
Telephone: (800) 4-CANCER (800-422-6237) or (301) 496-5583
TTY: (800) 332-8615
Home page: www.nci.nih.gov

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) offers a variety of resources to assist people who have cancer and cancer survivors with life issues that arise as a result of their disease. An on-line listing shows which states currently sell comprehensive health insurance to state residents who have serious medical conditions and who can’t find a company to insure them. Contact information for the companies that run each state’s program is included.

National Insurance Consumer Helpline

Telephone: (800) 942-4242
This toll-free helpline answers consumer questions and offers printed materials and advice on health insurance matters.

National Patient Advocate Foundation

753 Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Suite B
Newport News, VA 23606
Telephone: (800) 532-5274
Fax: (757) 873-8999
Home page: www.npaf.org

The National Patient Advocate Foundation is a nonprofit organization that serves as an active liaison between patients and their insurance carriers, employers, or creditors. The foundation helps patients resolve insurance, job discrimination, and/or debt crisis matters related to their diagnosis by providing assistance from case managers, doctors, and attorneys. The foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation, ensured access to care, maintenance of employment, and preservation of financial stability.

TRICARE

The TRICARE Management Activity
Skyline 5, Suite 810
5111 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3206
Home Page: www.tricare.osd.mil

TRICARE is a regionally managed health care program for active duty and retired members of the uniformed services, their families, and survivors. TRICARE brings together the health care resources of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and supplements them with networks of civilian health care professionals to provide better access and high quality service while maintaining the capability to support military operations. TRICARE is being implemented throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific.

United States Railroad Retirement Board

844 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2092
Telephone: (800) 808-0772
Home Page: www.rrb.gov

The Railroad Retirement Board’s mission is to administer retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness insurance benefit programs for railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. These programs provide income protection during old age and in the event of disability, death, or temporary unemployment and sickness. The Railroad Retirement Board also administers aspects of the Medicare program and has administrative responsibilities under the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code.

Veterans Health Administration

Telephone: (877) 222-VETS (877-222-8387)
Home page: www.va.gov/health_benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has responsibility for providing federal benefits to veterans and their dependents. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is part of the VA and provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to its members.