Getting Medicare Help and Counceling

Part 3, Chapter 9: Medicare and Medicare Related Programs: Medicare Page 14

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Organizations such as the Medicare Rights Center and the United Seniors Health Cooperative can also help by providing information and advice in dealing with Medicare problems (See Appendix B). These organizations can also offer up-to-date information on specific Medicare rules and programs.

In addition, each state has a free health insurance counseling service designed to provide help and advice to Medicare beneficiaries. The program offers help through trained volunteers. The program is referred to by a different official name in each state, but is generally coordinated by the state Department of Insurance, the Division on Aging, the Division of Senior Services, or the Department of Human Services. Check with those agencies in your state for further information on the state's counseling program for Medicare beneficiaries. The Medicare Handbook, available at your local Social Security office, includes a list of the telephone numbers of agencies that coordinate the Medicare health insurance counseling program in each state.

During August of 1997, the federal government made a series of changes in the Medicare program, including the possible development of Medical Savings Accounts, provider sponsored organizations, and other new types of plans. In addition, the government was in the process of considering the possibility of extending the open-enrollment period during which Medicare beneficiaries can choose a Medigap plan. Check with your state-sponsored counseling service, with the Medicare Rights Center, or with the United Seniors Health Cooperative for up-to-date information on these issues.

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