Medicare Rights Center

The Medicare Rights Center is a national, 501(c)(3) nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives.

The Medicare Rights Center has been operating since 1989, helping people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system and secure the quality care they deserve. They are the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

The Medicare Rights Center has offices located in New York City and Washington, D.C.However, through phone hotlines, Medicare Interactive internet services, large volunteer network and community programs they work with people no matter where they are located.

Funding

The Medicare Rights Center is supported by private foundations and public contracts as well as unrestricted contributions from corporations and individuals.

Services for People with Medicare and Their Caregivers

Through their various programs and services the Medicare Rights Center provides assistance to people in New York and throughout the United States.

Medicare and Medicaid Assistance Project (MMAP)

In New York City, the Medicare Rights Center provides personal counseling services at senior centers every week.

Counselors help people with Medicare understand their drug plan options, screen and enroll them in low-income programs, and help with other Medicare-related issues.

Seniors Out Speaking on Medicare (SOS Medicare)

In Westchester County, New York, the Seniors Out Speaking on Medicare (SOS Medicare) program trains and mobilizes volunteers to educate their peers about Medicare issues in their own communities. Volunteers visit senior centers, religious institutions, public housing projects, clubs and other sites throughout Westchester to speak about health care topics that interest people with Medicare and their families.

Hotline Counseling

Through their national telephone hotline, the Medicare Rights Center provides direct assistance. Trained hotline counselors respond to questions on a variety of Medicare related issues including questions about financial assistance and appealing a denial by a Medicare Private Health Plan or Medicare Part D Plan.

Newsletters

The Medicare Rights Center produces four electronic newsletters that provide information on Medicare issues. Among them are Dear Marci, Medicare Watch, The Medicare Counselor, and Asclepios.

Public Policy

Public policy initiatives address Medicare consumer issues and concerns on both the state and national levels. The Medicare Rights Center testifies before Congress, advocates for revisions to Medicare regulations and holds the performance of Medicare private health and drug plans up to public scrutiny.

Consumer Advocacy

The Medicare Rights Center works with policymakers and the media to promote public understanding of health care issues facing older and disabled Americans . They also field press inquiries on Medicare issues.

See also

• Single-payer health care
• Health advocacy

External links

• http://www.medicarerights.org
• http://www.MedicareInteractive.org
• Profile on GuideStar
• Profile on VolunteerMatch
• Profile on healthfinder.gov
• Profile on Do Good™ Channel
• Profile on Idealist.org