Navigating Medicare and Medicaid, 2005: Resource Guides for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates

The Kaiser Family Foundation released new guides, prepared by Bob Williams and Henry Claypool of Advancing Independence and Jeff Crowley of the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, that explain the role of Medicare and Medicaid for roughly 20 million children, adults and seniors with disabilities. These guides offer a basic introduction to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including answers to questions such as:

  • How do people with disabilities apply for coverage under Medicare or Medicaid?
  • What is Medicare’s policy for covering durable medical equipment?
  • Where can people with disabilities turn if they need help in applying for Medicaid?
  • How do people with disabilities appeal Medicare coverage decisions?
  • Can a person with a disability who has Medicare and/or Medicaid be employed and still keep their coverage?
  • These guides are available online in both PDF and HTML formats at the following URL.

www.kff.org/medicare/

Hospital evaluation link

Medicare Home page
Contains all currently available information about Medicare and its benefits.
www.medicare.gov/
Medicare Claims, Appeals Information, and Medicare Summary Notices
Includes information on how to file a Medicare claim, how to  recognize, avoid, and prevent Medicare fraud, provides a short  explanation as to how to file an appeal or grievance if you have a  complaint and contains a listing of Medicare appeals forms that you can  view and print.
Medicare’s Dialysis Facility Compare
This section of the Medicare site gives detailed information about  Medicare approved dialysis facilities.
www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Home.asp
Medicare Eligibility, Enrollment, & Premiums
Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for people 65 years of age and  older, some disabled people under 65 years of age, and people with  End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis  or a transplant).
www.medicare.gov/MedicareEligibility/home.asp
Medicare’s Helpful Contacts Page
The phone numbers section of the Medicare site allows you to access  phone numbers to help you to get answers to specific Medicare related  questions that you may have or to contact a specific organization.
Medicare Health Plan Compare
Medicare’s Health Plan Compare helps you obtain detailed information  on Medicare’s health plan options. By “comparison shopping,” you can  find the plans that are best for you.
Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare
The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing  home in the country.
www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Home.asp
Medicare’s Nursing Homes Overview
The purpose of this section of the Medicare site is to provide visitors  with information relating to Medicaid and Medicare certified nursing  homes throughout the United States. It includes information on payment  and patient rights, and a nursing home checklist which will help you  evaluate the nursing homes that you visit.
Medicare Participating Physician Directory (doctors who accept Medicare payments)
www.medicare.gov/Physician/Home.asp
Medicare Personal Plan Finder
Includes information about Medicare health plan options.
Medicare Plan Choices
Medicare offers you different ways to get your Medicare benefits. These  different options are called Medicare health plans. One option is the  Original Medicare Plan. Some private companies contract with the  Medicare program to offer Medicare health plans. These are called  Medicare + Choice (“Medicare plus Choice”) plans.
Medicare Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
This page provides information on public and private programs that offer discounted or free medication, as well as Medicare health plans that include prescription coverage.
Medicare Publications
You can view, print, or order publications online or by calling  1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The fastest way to get a publication  is to use the Medicare search tool and then view and print it. If you order  online or through 1-800-MEDICARE, you will receive your order within 3  weeks.
www.medicare.gov/Publications/home.asp
Medicare’s Supplier Directory
This section of the Medicare site provides names, addresses, and  contact information for suppliers that provide services or products  under the Medicare program.
http://www.medicare.gov/Supplier/Home.asp
Medigap Compare
An interactive tool for Medicare beneficiaries and people who assist them with their care. It is designed to help you find the insurance companies in your state that sell Medigap (Medicare supplemental insurance) plans, and it gives you information on how to contact the insurance companies. Medigap Compare also provides general information about Medigap insurance to help you with your health care choices.
Your Medicare Coverage
This section of the Medicare site provides information about your health  care benefits in the Original Medicare plan (sometimes referred to as  “fee-for-service”).
www.medicare.gov/Coverage/Home.asp

*Also see: Module 7~ Legal and Financial Planning – Medicare (on this site)