Social Workers & Case Workers

Social Workers and Case Workers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) works to build bridges between the federal government and social workers and case workers to better serve individuals and families in need of information about health insurance, health care, prevention and wellness.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

Helping someone who is uninsured or want to check to see if you or your client are getting the best health insurance plan that meets your needs? The Health Insurance Marketplace® helps people shop for and enroll in health insurance. 

For more information about enrolling in health coverage through the Marketplace, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 for help 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY number is 1-855-889-4325) available in over 240 languages. You can also find free local enrollment assistance in your area at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Medicaid provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults and people with disabilities. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health coverage to uninsured children in low-income families.

People can apply for Medicaid and CHIP any time during the year since Medicaid and CHIP don’t have an Open Enrollment Period. If someone thinks they’re eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, they can contact their state’s Medicaid or CHIP agency to apply. Contact information for each state’s agency can be found at Medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip/index.html#statemenu.

Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 and older or people who have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Medicare Open Enrollment is from October 15 to December 7 each year and allows enrollees the opportunity to review their plan options and make changes to their plan for the upcoming year. 

To enroll in Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. You can also call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, personalized health insurance counseling. Visit shiphelp.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get your state’s SHIP phone number.

Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Services

Medicare covers certain screenings, services, and programs that aid in the treatment and recovery of mental health and substance use disorders.

For more information about services and programs Medicare covers, visit Medicare.gov/coverage/mental-health-substance-use-disorder.

Discharge Planning

CMS has recently released pieces of guidance related to discharge planning requirements and condition of participation around discharge planning. Learn more in the resources linked below.

•  Requirements for Hospital Discharges to Post-Acute Care Providers 
•  Condition of Participation: Discharge Planning

There are many ways that you can share information about enrollment in health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the Health Insurance Marketplace:

Follow HealthCare.gov, Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, InsureKidsNow.gov and CMS.gov on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). HHS.gov is also on Instagram. For information for faith and other community-based organizations, visit the CMS Faith-based Partners page.

We look forward to partnering with you on health and wellness issues! Stay in touch with us by signing up to receive our e-newsletter by emailing Partnership@cms.hhs.gov .