Resources for Mature Adults & Seniors:
Making Sense of Medicare

Sponsored by the National Council on Aging. Has self-help, interactive forms to help you to determine if you are eligible for government benefits or if the Medicare Prescription Benefit is a good choice for you.

Center for Medicare Advocacy

The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., founded in 1986, is a national non-partisan education and advocacy organization that identifies and promotes policy and advocacy solutions to ensure that elders and people with disabilities have access to Medicare and quality health care. The Center for Medicare Advocacy's national office is in Connecticut, with offices throughout the country, including Washington, DC.

Finding A Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

This site is designed to help you learn about this new coverage, find and compare plans, and enroll in a plan. Plans are organized by state and listed on a separate page. Plans may not cover all the prescription drugs you are taking or if they do, not in the dose prescribed for you. Questionnaires help you to select a plan. You need to try this site�s questionnaires several times to get the information that�s right for you. (Also available in Spanish.)

Medicare

The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare Information. There are two valuable searchable indexes here: Medicare Compare offers comparison shopping of Medcare Providers' plans and options—costs of premiums, types of benefits, plan quality, etc.; Nursing Home Compare does the same for every Medicare and Medicaid certified facility in the country, including their most recent violations at their last evaluation. Searchable by zip code, county, or state.

Medicare Drfug Benefit Calculator

Use this site to estimate costs for prescription drugs under the Medicare proposal under consideration by Congress. Enter annual prescription drug costs, then view estimates for out-of-pocket costs, costs plus the estimated annual premium, and the percentage of drug expenses absorbed by the payer under the new benefit. From the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Medicare Resource Book

This full-text guide is intended "to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program." Describes program eligibility, benefits, financing, and administration. Also includes legislative history, resource bibliographies, and indexes to federal laws and regulations. From the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Official information from Medicare about its prescription drug plan and the Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare Plan D) effective January 1, 2006. Covers enrollment periods, local plans, and common coverage situations. Includes a prescription drug plan finder, a drug finder, online enrollment, and publications. From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicare Resource Book

This full-text guide is intended "to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program." Describes program eligibility, benefits, financing, and administration. Also includes legislative history, resource bibliographies, and indexes to federal laws and regulations. From the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Medicare Rights

A national, not-for-profit organization providing telephone answers to individuals who need answers to Medicare questions or help securing coverage, together with topical links. Tip sheet on using the Medicare�s drug finder, information on supplemental plans and options. Also includes information in Spanish and specific to New York state. The MRC receives its funding from many foundations and from the federal and New York state and city governments.

Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program

Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) is a free health-benefit counseling service. Since 1984, MMAP has provided education and counseling assistance to Michigan�s Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and their families or representatives.
MMAP accomplishes its mission through 48 MMAP sites housed in regional Area Agencies on Aging, County Departments on Aging, Senior Services Agencies, Commissions on Aging and other similar organizations located throughout Michigan.
Currently, MMAP has over 500 highly trained and certified volunteers and volunteer coordinators. These dedicated and compassionate people, many of them seniors, answer questions and act as guides through the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
In 2003, MMAP assisted over 22,000 Michigan beneficiaries and saved them $17 million in out-of-pocket expenses, bringing peace of mind to those who are often confused and frightened when they deal with unfamiliar and difficult government systems.

MyMedicareMatters.org

Sponsored by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA) and the Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC), with support from AstraZeneca. .Quick and easy forms can help you assess your situation; find and compare plans; or join a plan.

Prescription Drug and Other Assistance Programs (Including Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Cards)

This site allows you to "compare the price of various medical prescription drugs."Select the "Quick Search" tab, enter your ZIP code, and select the drug or drugs from a list. This will produce a list of prices, sorted by prescription card program, from both local and mail-order pharmacies. Also includes eligibility questions and links to related resources. From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Resources for Mature Adults & Seniors: Making Sense of Medicare

Resources for Mature Adults & Seniors:
Making Sense of Medicare