Helpful Online Resources
This section includes resources that are helpful when you’re planning for healthcare costs during retirement. The Internet addresses and information listed are the most current we have. Please note that it’s not unusual for some of the information, as well as the Internet addresses, to change from time to time.
Care Management Resources
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers | (502) 881-8008
www.caremanager.org
The site includes a search function to locate a geriatric care manager in your area or in the area where your family member resides.
Elder Care Locator | (800)677-1116
www.eldercare.gov
The Eldercare Locator will help you find resources for older adults in any U.S. community, along with Title VI-Native
American aging programs and support services for caregivers.
It’s a free national service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) administers the Eldercare Locator in partnership
with the National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA).
Meals on Wheels Association of America | (703)548-5558
www.mowaa.orgYou can use this site to locate home-delivered meal programs in your area.
National Association of Adult Day Services | (800) 558-5301
www.nadsa.org
This site has a search function to help you find Adult Day Services in your area.
Health Insurance Advocacy
Patient Advocate Foundation | (800) 532-5274
www.patientadvocate.org
PAF is a national, non-profit organization that serves as a liaison between patients and their insurers, employers and creditors to resolve insurance,
job-retention and debt- crisis matters relative to a health problem. The organization offers professional case managers, doctors and healthcare
attorneys.
Co-pay Relief
Patient Advocate Foundation | (866) 512-3861
www.copays.org
Co-Pay Relief is a service of the Patient Advocate Foundation. It provides direct co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical products to insured Americans who qualify medically and financially.
Health-Related Legal Issues
American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging | (202) 662-8690
www.abanet.org
This site provides a variety of online resources, free of charge, to assist you in dealing with many health-related legal issues. Topics and tools this site covers include:
- Consumer's Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning
- Health and Financial Decisions: Legal Tools for Preserving Your Personal Autonomy
- Health and Financial Decisions (En Español)
- Law and Aging Resource Guide—Find Legal Help in Your State
- Reverse Mortgages: A Resource for Older Homeowners
- Shape Your Healthcare Future with Health Care Advance Directives
- Myths and Facts About Health Care Advance Directives
- Understanding Health Plan Dispute Resolution Practices
Long Term Care Information
National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information | (202) 619-0724
www.longtermcare.gov
This Web site was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help to help individuals and families plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs.
The site provides a wide range of information and options to help you plan for future long-term care, but it can't tell you which ones will work best for you.
The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information is primarily intended as an information and planning resource for individuals who don't yet require long-term care.
It also includes information on services and financing options that can be helpful to all individuals.
Long Term Care Planning Information |(800) MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov
The US government maintains this site, which is chock-full of information about long- term care services, including:
Medicaid and Medicare Information
Medicaid Information | (800) 541-2831
www.cms.hhs.gov
This site is provided by the United States government and contains a wide array of information about Medicaid services.
For a general overview about the Medicaid program, visit: www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo
Medicare Information | (800) MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov
Also provided by the United States government, this site contains a variety of information about Medicare services.
http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10050.pdf
The booklet entitled Medicare and You 2009 can be found at the web address listed above.
The booklet provides up-to-date general information about the Medicare Program in a user-friendly format.
Stop Medicare Fraud (800) | 447-8477
www.stopmedicarefraud.gov The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are working together to help eliminate fraud and investigate fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid operators who are cheating the system. Learn how to spot Medicare Fraud and protect yourself from fraudulent activities.
For the Caregiver
American Association of Retired Persons | (888) OUR-AARP (687-2277)
www.aarp.org
Guide to caregiving; message boards for caregivers.
CarePages.com | (888) 852-5521
www.carepages.comFree,personalized social networking websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.
CaringBridge.com | (651)-452-7940
www.caringbridge.org/
Free,personalized social networking websites that support and connect loved ones during critical illness, treatment and recovery.
Family Caregiver Alliance | (800)445-8106
www.caregiver.org
Links to caregiver resources by state and alerts on policy initiatives to aid caregivers.
National Alliance for Caregiving | (800) 896-3650
www.caregiving.org
Conducts research. Offers "Lots a Helping Hands" online calendar to schedule family and friends for help
in time slots requested by caregiver.
National Family Caregivers Association| (800) 896-3650
www.thefamilycaregiver.orgTips and guides for family caregivers, information on agencies and organizations that provide caregiver support.
The Medicare Rights Center (800)333-4114
www.medicarerights.orgThe Medicare Rights Center works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling, free educational programs and public policy initiatives
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program | (800)253-7154
www.shiptalk.org
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, is a nationwide program that offers free one-on-one
counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families.
BenefitsCheckUp - A Service of the National Council on Aging
www.benefitscheckup.orgFind and enroll in federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health care and other needs.
National Committee for Quality Assurance | (800) 275-7585
www.reportcard.ncqa.orgNCQA’s report card helps you choose a health plan that’s right for you and your family. Health plans that are listed in the Health Plan Report Card have achieved NCQA Accreditation. NCQA uses a team of trained health care experts—including physicians—to conduct a rigorous, on-site and off-site review of the health plan. These expert surveyors evaluate the health plan’s structure and operations against NCQA’s standards that address such things as patient safety, communication with members and other important areas of service. No one affiliated with the health plan is part of the review team or involved in making the accreditation decision.