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There are a number of places to turn for information about Medicare and health care coverage. Since different agencies supply different types of information, you might have to contact several before finding one that can help.


Places to Start

Get basic Medicare information by calling the National Medicare Hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE; TTY/TTD 1-877-486-2048 or visiting www.medicare.gov on the Internet.

You can also order Medicare & You, an overview of Medicare, by calling the hotline or by writing to Medicare Publications, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

Get information on Medicare enrollment and eligibility by calling the National Social Security Hotline at 1-800-772-1213. Also call this number to report lost Medicare cards and a change of address.

Find out about Medicaid eligibility requirements and enrollment procedures at your state or local welfare office, social service, or Medicaid agency.

Get referrals for local agencies that can help you obtain information and services in your community on issues including home health care, nursing home care, and long-term care insurance by calling the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Request detailed information in English or Spanish about the Medicare Advantage (MA) plans available in your area by calling the automated Medicare Special Information number at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or by visiting www.medicare.gov.

Additional Resources by State

A variety of state and local agencies can provide more specific information about Medicare, Medigap, and long-term care. The following state-by-state lists include some of these sources.

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs)
For information and free counseling related to Medicare, Medigap, MA plans, and long-term care, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. These are federally funded programs established to help beneficiaries with their health insurance choices.

State Medicaid Agencies
To answer questions about eligibility and enrollment in Medicaid, call your state Medicaid agency. It administers Medicaid benefits, including QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 programs.

Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
For questions about nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in your area, call this number. Your state long-term care ombudsman protects the rights of nursing home residents and responds to questions about facilities.

Social Security Offices
To find your local Social Security office, call 1-800-772-1213 or enter your zip code at this website: http://s00dace.ssa.gov/pro/fol/fol-home.html. State Social Security office websites are listed in the state-by-state table below.

State Pharmacy Assistance Programs
Many states have programs that help low-income Medicare beneficiaries who are not eligible for Medicaid pay for their prescription medications. To find out if there is a program in your state, see www.medicare.gov and follow the link for prescription drug assistance programs.