The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing information about CMS programs, policies, and initiatives to community organizations so they can share it with their members, consumers, and community members. CMS provides resources for our partners to communicate to their audiences to better serve individuals and families who qualify for Medicare, need health insurance, wellness or prevention information.
Below are some resources for our community partners.
Medicare
Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too, including those with disabilities and those who have permanent kidney failure. If you’re eligible at age 65, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends three months after that birthday. However, if you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period, you have another chance each year to sign up during a “general enrollment period” from January 1 through March 31. Your coverage begins on July 1 of the year you enroll. Read our Medicare publication for more information. For more information visit https://www.medicare.gov/ .
Care Compare Tools: https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/
Some people are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. They are called Dually Eligible. Medicaid may also cover services not normally covered by Medicare (like long term supports and services and personal care services).
Click on the link for more information about the new Medicare "What's Covered App"!
https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2019-01/12035-whats-covered-app.pdf
Medicaid
To enroll in Medicaid, go to HealthCare.gov, or visit contact your state Medicaid agency. Each state has different rules about eligibility and applying for Medicaid. Contact information for each state Medicaid agency can be found at Medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip/index.html.
For more information on how to enroll in Medicaid, visit HealthCare.gov/medicaid-chip/getting-medicaid-chip/.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health coverage to uninsured children and teens in low-income families. Similar to Medicaid, people can apply for CHIP any time during the year since CHIP doesn’t have an Open Enrollment Period. For more information about CHIP and how to enroll, visit Healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/ or contact your state Medicaid/CHIP agency.
Contact information for each state Medicaid/CHIP agency can be found at Medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip/index.html.
Call 1-800-318-2596. TTY users can call 1-855-889-4325. Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call 1-877-KIDS-NOW (1-877-543-7669).
Health Insurance Marketplace
The Health Insurance Marketplace is a service that helps people shop for and enroll in health Insurance. The federal government operates the Health Insurance Marketplace®, available at HealthCare.gov, for most states. Some states run their own Marketplaces. People who need health insurance should go to HealthCare.gov to find out if they qualify to enroll in a private insurance plan, Medicaid, or other affordability programs.
Consumers who need help enrolling in health insurance can call 1-800-318-2596. TTY users can call 1-855-889-4325. Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Consumers can also click on Find Local Help to get a list of agents, brokers, and assisters in their community who can help them enroll coverage.
Educational materials and other resources to help consumers enroll in the Marketplace coverage are available at: https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/in-person-assisters/outreach-education/partner-tools-toolkits.
Ordering CMS Publications
Need more information? You can order CMS publications by creating an account in the CMS Product Ordering System: https://productordering.cms.hhs.gov