Medicare

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Savings Program

Medicaid for Persons with Medicare

Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program

Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program

Do you have questions about:

• Medicare Coverage under Part A and Part B?
• Selecting a Medigap supplement policy?
• Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan?
• How Medicare works with employee/retiree coverage?
• Saving money with low-income assistance?
• Meeting the costs of long-term care?

You can get answers to your questions about health insurance for seniors, including prescription drug coverage, from The New York City Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP). HIICAP is New York's source for free, current and impartial information about health care coverage.

If you would like someone to assist you over the phone, please contact 311 to request the phone number of a HIICAP program in your community.  Appointments can also be made to visit the HIICAP Office at 2 Lafayette Street, 6th floor, in Manhattan, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m by calling the HIICAP Office at 212-341-3978.

HIICAP annually updates its Complete Guide to Health Care Coverage to help older New Yorkers better understand their health care coverage options. The Guide covers a wide range of topics - from a description of Medicare’s Part A, Part B and Preventive Services to explanations of Medicare Advantage Plans, “Medigap” insurance, Medicare Savings Programs, Medicare Part D, Medicaid and other health coverage options.

Download the Complete Guide to Health Care Coverage for Older New Yorkers 2011 or request a copy from HIICAP at (212) 341-3978.

Documents below are in PDF format. Click here to download the latest Adobe Reader.

Medicare Rights and Protections

The Medicare System is complex and often difficult to navigate. In addition to HIICAP, there are national resources to help you learn more about the benefits to which seniors are entitled, their rights and protections.

Protect your Medicare number as you would your credit card information. Give it out only to people or organizations you trust.

If you find that someone is inappropriately using your personal Medicare information, contact the following:

• 1-800-Medicare.
• The Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Hotline to make a report at 1-877-438-4338 or if you are a TT user at 1-866-653-4261.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, call Medicare at 1-800-447-8477 (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) or your local police department immediately. If you feel in danger for any reason, call your local police department immediately.

Long Term Care Insurance

The ability to pay for long term care is of critical concern for many persons aged 45-60. The Long Term Care Insurance Resource Center at the Department for the Aging can:

• Conduct presentations at your location about long term care insurance and the New York State Partnership policies;
• Meet with you individually to help you decide whether to purchase a long term care insurance policy;
• Answer questions about any existing policies;
• Connect individuals to the proper resources for answers to more in-depth questions.