Find more information on financial resources at www.medicare.gov or www.health.ny.gov.
Evaluate different plans in your service area at www.medicare.gov/planfinder.
Call 1-800-Medicare to speak to a representative and review your plan choices with you over the phone.
Schedule an in-person appointment at a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known as HIICAP (the Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program) in NY State at www.aging.ny.gov or 1-800-701-0501.
People outside of New York State can call 1-800-Medicare for assistance over the phone.
Call the Medicare Rights Helpline(1-800-333-4114) or visit medicarerights.org, which is run by the non-profit Medicare Rights Center.
For a comprehensive overview of Medicare and Medigap, visit the Kaiser Family Foundation website at www.kff.org.
Apply for Medicare at www.ssa.gov or visit your local Social Security office.
Find more Medicare news and information at www.cms.gov.
A joint federal and state program, Medicaid can help people who meet certain income requirements pay for Medicare's out-of-pocket costs. Medicaid only pays after Medicare, employer group health plans, and/or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance have paid.
The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE, is a Medicare/Medicaid offering that provides seniors with care and services in the home, the community and a PACE center rather than going to a nursing home or care facility. To qualify, you must be 55 or older, live in the service area of a PACE organization, and be in need of nursing home-level care.
State Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) help pay premiums, deductibles, co-insurance, co-payments and prescription drug costs if seniors meet certain conditions.
There are four kinds of MSP programs, including Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), which help individuals with a monthly income limit of $1,032 pay for Part A and B premiums and other costs.
Seniors may be eligible for Extra Help from Medicare to assist with the costs of prescription drug coverage if they meet certain income and resource criteria.
Seniors automatically qualify for Extra Help if they have Medicare and have full Medicaid coverage; get help from Medicaid paying Part B premiums (in Medicare Savings Programs) and get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to all beneficiaries. Those who decide against signing up for Medicare drug coverage when initially eligible will likely pay a late enrollment penalty (unless they have other credible prescription drug coverage or receive Extra Help).
To receive drug coverage, you must enroll in a Medicare Prescriptions Drug Plan, also known as Part D, which adds drug coverage to Original Medicare (as well as some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans).
You can also join a Medicare Advantage Plan, aka Part C (like an HMO or PPO), or other Medicare health plan that offers Medicare prescription drug coverage.
You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan.
To find a Medicare drug plan, either enroll on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or on the plan's website, complete a paper enrollment form, or call the plan.
For more help, call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).