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Counseling & Advocacy

Medicare Rights’ expert counselors help people with Medicare, their families and caregivers, and the professionals who serve them navigate Medicare. We provide clear answers and step-by-step assistance to take the guesswork out of health insurance decision-making.

GET MEDICARE HELP

Call the National Helpline

Through our free national helpline, we answer thousands of questions each year. Trained staff and volunteers help each caller with their particular issue, whether it relates to understanding Medicare benefits, making enrollment decisions, coordinating Medicare with other insurance, appealing denials of care, determining eligibility for Medicare cost-saving programs, or another topic.  

The thousands of stories we hear strengthen our counseling expertise and help inform our policy positions, ensuring that federal and state advocacy efforts reflect the realities of older adults and people with disabilities.

Call for free assistance

800-333-4114

Todos nuestros servicios están disponibles en español. Si desea hablar con un consejero en español, llame a nuestra línea de servicio al cliente (800-333-4114) y presione el “8” cuando oiga el mensaje del operador.

Helpline Trends Report

Our latest trends report spotlights ongoing challenges facing people with Medicare, as illustrated by our clients, and recommends policy solutions.

HELPING NEW YORK City Residents AFFORD THEIR CARE

Medicare Savings Program
Enrollment Training

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are state-administered benefit programs that help people with Medicare who have limited incomes afford their Medicare costs. MSPs pay for the Medicare Part B premium ($164.90 per month in 2023) and help pay Medicare prescription drug costs. On average, this vital benefit program can save an individual more than $7,300 annually in out-of-pocket health care costs.

Medicare Rights helps New York City residents afford their care in two ways. 

  • We screen our helpline callers for eligibility for Medicare cost-saving programs, specifically the MSP, and provide eligible individuals with in-depth assistance applying for benefits.
  • We provide training and technical assistance to New York City community-based organizations, helping them submit MSP applications for their clients directly to the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA). Medicare Rights’ years of experience working with HRA on MSP enrollment places us in a unique position to streamline the enrollment process for our partners.

Our live trainings focus on promoting access to the MSPs across New York City and enable you to better serve your older clients and those with disabilities. 

During the live training, you will learn how to:

Review the basics of the Medicare program including eligibility, coverage, and costs.

Learn the eligibility criteria needed to screen and identify clients who may be eligible for an MSP.  Understand how all levels of the MSP (QI and QMB) work in different ways to the benefit of your client. Each individual enrolled in an MSP saves several thousand dollars annually on health care costs and gains access to needed health care.

Learn to complete an MSP application and submit it to the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) through the Medicare Rights Center. Trainings will also cover the MSP application and submission process under the ongoing Covid-19 Public Health Emergency period.

Find Out About Upcoming Training

New York City professionals can sign up below to receive email notifications about upcoming training.

Please note that this training is not open to employees of health insurance companies, health insurance agents or brokers, self-employed individuals, or individuals employed by private businesses. By filling out this form, you agree to receive email notifications from the Medicare Rights Center.

Stories

Heard on the Helpline

Every day on our national helpline, we hear about the barriers people face when accessing health care. Each client’s story is a snapshot of Medicare Rights’ more than 30-year commitment to ensuring that older adults and people with disabilities can get the affordable health care they need.

Barrie

Barrie was used to leading an active lifestyle. That changed when he developed a condition which affected his inner ears. Then, he lost his employer health coverage.

Maureen

Maureen was abruptly dropped from her Medicare drug plan because of an error regarding her change of address several years before, and her essential medications were no longer covered.

Rose

Rose, a 66-year-old Florida resident, called Medicare Rights because she was provided a power wheelchair that she was unable to use.