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Coping Without Insurance

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• Additional Resources

What if you are uninsured or need services that Medicare won't cover? You can still receive some form of health care. Some public and private programs can help you get routine health care, prescription drugs, and other services. The National Council on Aging offers a web service called BenefitsCheckup. It helps seniors with limited income find help. The database includes over 1,150 programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Besides prescription drugs and health care these programs may also cover:

• Nutrition (including Food Stamps)
• Energy assistance
• Financial
• Legal
• Social Security
• Housing
• In-home services
• Tax relief
• Transportation
• Employment
• Educational Assistance
• Volunteer services

To read about what benefits are available to you, use the search tools at www.benefitscheckup.org.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Frequently Asked Questions - Health Insurance and Women — This publication explains what health insurance is and how it affects women. It gives information on health care options, what to do if you're uninsured, what to do if you don't qualify for government benefits, and what you can do to protect your health insurance benefits.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/healthins.htm

2.   Title XVII - Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled — This report is an on-line copy of the Social Security Act Title XVII. It includes information on hospital and medical insurance benefits, Medicare, prescription drug benefits, and more.

   http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1800.htm

3. Questions and Answers About Health Insurance (Copyright © AHIP) — This guide briefly describes the different kinds of health insurance plans available today. These include network-based plans, nonnetwork based coverage, and consumer-directed health plans. Also, you will find answers to many common questions you may have about health insurance. Resources are provided at the end of the booklet to help you find additional, more detailed information.

   http://www.ahip.org/content/default.aspx?bc=41|329|20888

Organizations

1.   Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS
2.   GovBenefits.gov
3.   Health Resources Services Administration Information Center
4.   National Institute on Aging, NIH, HHS
5. Access to Benefits Coalition
6. AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
7. America’s Health Insurance Plans
8. Partnership for Prescription Assistance

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 5, 2009.