What if you are uninsured or need services that Medicare won't cover? You can still receive some form of health care.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (health care reform), which Congress passed in March 2010, will set up a program for people with preexisting health problems who have been uninsured for six months or longer. The program will help people get insurance and pay for premiums. The new law also will help lower health care costs for people on Medicare by, for example, providing free preventive care services and providing better prescription drug coverage. These changes will go into effect over time.
Some public and private programs also 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 older adults 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:
To read about what benefits are available to you, use the search tools at www.benefitscheckup.org.
Content last updated August 12, 2010.