The Medicare Part D appeals process is an essential safety valve that allows older adults and people with disabilities to access and afford needed prescriptions. However, complexities in the current system can make it difficult for beneficiaries to obtain the relief they need. On Medicare Rights’ National Consumer Helpline, we […]
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law remains under attack in Congress, the states, and the courts.
In 2017, Medicare Rights staff and volunteers addressed more than 15,000 questions and issues through the organization’s national helpline. In addition, over 2.8 million questions were answered for people with Medicare, their caregivers, and professionals serving them through Medicare Interactive, Medicare Rights’ free and independent online reference tool thoughtfully designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance. This report will feature select helpline trends and highlight the most commonly searched for Medicare Interactive answers, providing a glimpse into the information and coverage needs of Medicare beneficiaries and their families.
In 2016, the Medicare Rights Center’s (Medicare Rights) staff and helpline volunteers fielded more than 16,758 questions and issues through the organization’s National Consumer Helpline. Clients included Medicare beneficiaries, families, and caregivers across the country. As in previous years, clients were geographically and socioeconomically diverse, and needed help with a wide array of complex Medicare-related issues.
Improving New York State Access to Medicare Savings Programs This brief spotlights ways to improve access to Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) in New York. MSPs can help Medicare beneficiaries with low-incomes save thousands of dollars in health care costs each year, however, they are consistently under-enrolled and under-utilized. Drawing on […]
What It Means for Medicare and Medicaid Consumers and Consumer Advocates, and Recommendations for Making New Models Work Better August 2017 Support for this work was provided by United Hospital Fund, an independent, nonprofit organization working to build a more effective health care system for every New Yorker. The views […]
An Analysis of 2015 Call Data from the Medicare Rights Center’s National Helpline March 2017 | Samantha Morales, Frederic Riccardi, Julie Carter, Stacy Sanders Introduction and Summary In 2015, the Medicare Rights Center’s (Medicare Rights) staff and helpline volunteers fielded more than 16,000 questions and issues through the organization’s national helpline. […]
An Analysis of 2014 Call Data from the Medicare Rights Center’s National Helpline In 2014, the Medicare Rights Center’s (Medicare Rights) staff and helpline volunteers fielded more than 17,000 questions and issues through the organization’s national consumer helpline. Callers included over 11,000 Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers across the country. As […]
Certain adults in New York City and Nassau County are now eligible to enroll in a Fully Integrated Duals Advantage (FIDA) plan, launched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the New York State Department of Health in 2015. FIDA gives dually eligible beneficiaries (those eligible for Medicare […]
An Analysis of 2013 Call Data from the Medicare Rights Center’s National Helpline In 2013, the Medicare Rights Center’s (Medicare Rights) national helpline fielded more than 15,000 questions from Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and professionals across the country. Callers were geographically and socioeconomically diverse, and needed help with a wide array […]
