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Georgia State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Georgia
Healthcare and Social Services
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Georgia Medicaid
Phone: 1-877-423-4746
Website: Medicaid.Georgia.gov -
Georgia Medicare
Phone: 1-800-633-4227
Website: Medicare.gov -
Georgia Department of Public Health
Phone: 1-404-657-2700
Website: DPH.Georgia.gov -
Georgia Department of Human Services
Phone: 1-844-694-2347
Website: DHS.Georgia.gov -
Georgia 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-800-536-0147
Website: 211.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Atlanta Community Food Bank
Phone: 1-404-892-3333
Website: ACFB.org -
Georgia Department of Community Affairs (Housing)
Phone: 1-800-359-4663
Website: DCA.GA.gov
Legal and Financial Aid
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Georgia Legal Services Program
Phone: 1-800-498-9469
Website: GLSP.org -
Georgia Department of Human Services Family Assistance
Phone: 1-844-694-2347
Website: DFCS.Georgia.gov
Charities
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United Way of Greater Atlanta
Phone: 1-404-527-7200
Website: UnitedWayAtlanta.org -
Catholic Charities Atlanta
Phone: 1-404-881-6571
Website: CatholicCharitiesAtlanta.org -
Salvation Army Georgia
Phone: 1-404-486-2900
Website: SalvationArmyAtlanta.org
Florida State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Florida
Healthcare and Social Services
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Florida Medicaid
Phone: 1-877-254-1055
Website: Medicaid.gov/Florida -
Florida Department of Health
Phone: 1-850-245-4444
Website: FloridaHealth.gov -
Florida Department of Children and Families
Phone: 1-866-762-2237
Website: MyFLFamilies.com -
Florida 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-866-211-9966
Website: 211.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Feeding Florida
Phone: 1-800-500-1119
Website: FeedingFlorida.org -
Florida Housing Coalition
Phone: 1-850-878-4219
Website: FLHousing.org
Legal and Financial Aid
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Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association
Phone: 1-407-841-8310
Website: LegalAidOCBA.org -
Florida Department of Children and Families Family Services
Phone: 1-866-762-2237
Website: MyFLFamilies.com/FamilyServices
Charities
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United Way of Florida
Phone: 1-850-488-8287
Website: UWOF.org -
Catholic Charities of Florida
Phone: 1-407-658-1818
Website: CFLCC.org -
Salvation Army Florida
Phone: 1-800-725-2769
Website: SalvationArmyFlorida.org
Delaware State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Delaware
Healthcare and Social Services
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Delaware Medicaid (Diamond State Health Plan)
Phone: 1-800-996-9969
Website: Medicaid.DHSS.Delaware.gov -
Delaware Division of Public Health
Phone: 1-302-744-4700
Website: DHSS.Delaware.gov/DPH -
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
Phone: 1-800-372-2022
Website: DHSS.Delaware.gov -
Delaware 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-800-560-3372
Website: Delaware211.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Food Bank of Delaware
Phone: 1-302-292-1305
Website: FBD.org -
Delaware State Housing Authority
Phone: 1-888-363-8808
Website: DeStateHousing.com
Legal and Financial Aid
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Legal Services Corporation of Delaware
Phone: 1-302-575-0408
Website: LSCD.com -
Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Family Assistance
Phone: 1-800-372-2022
Website: DHSS.Delaware.gov/FamilyAssistance
Charities
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United Way of Delaware
Phone: 1-302-573-3700
Website: UWDE.org -
Catholic Charities of Wilmington
Phone: 1-302-655-9624
Website: CDOW.org/Charities -
Salvation Army Delaware
Phone: 1-302-472-0750
Website: SalvationArmyDelaware.org
Connecticut State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Connecticut
Healthcare and Social Services
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Connecticut Medicaid (Husky Health)
Phone: 1-877-284-8759
Website: Connecticut.gov/HuskyHealth -
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Phone: 1-860-509-8000
Website: CT.gov/DPH -
Connecticut Department of Social Services
Phone: 1-855-626-6632
Website: CT.gov/DSS -
Connecticut 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-800-203-1234
Website: 211CT.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Connecticut Food Bank
Phone: 1-203-469-5000
Website: CTFoodBank.org -
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
Phone: 1-860-721-9501
Website: CHFA.org
Legal and Financial Aid
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Connecticut Legal Services
Phone: 1-800-453-3320
Website: ConnLegalServices.org -
Connecticut Department of Social Services Family Assistance
Phone: 1-855-626-6632
Website: CT.gov/DSS/Family-Assistance
Charities
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United Way of Connecticut
Phone: 1-860-571-7500
Website: CTUnitedWay.org -
Catholic Charities of Connecticut
Phone: 1-860-582-5926
Website: CCAoh.org -
Salvation Army Connecticut
Phone: 1-860-543-8400
Website: CTRI.SalvationArmy.org
Colorado State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Colorado
Healthcare and Social Services
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Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado)
Phone: 1-800-221-3943
Website: HealthFirstColorado.com -
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Phone: 1-303-692-2000
Website: Colorado.gov/cdphe -
Colorado Department of Human Services
Phone: 1-800-536-5298
Website: Colorado.gov/cdhs -
Colorado 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1
Website: 211Colorado.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Food Bank of the Rockies
Phone: 1-303-371-9250
Website: FoodBankRockies.org - Colorado Housing and Finance Autho
California State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in California
Healthcare and Social Services
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California Medicaid (Medi-Cal)
Phone: 1-800-541-5555
Website: DHCS.CA.gov -
California Department of Public Health
Phone: 1-916-558-1784
Website: CDPH.CA.gov -
California Department of Social Services
Phone: 1-800-952-5253
Website: CDSS.CA.gov -
California 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1
Website: 211California.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Phone: 1-323-234-3030
Website: LAFoodBank.org -
California Housing Finance Agency
Phone: 1-877-922-5432
Website: CalHFA.CA.gov
Legal and Financial Aid
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Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Phone: 1-800-399-4529
Website: LAFLA.org -
California Department of Social Services Family Assistance
Phone: 1-800-952-5253
Website: CDSS.CA.gov/Benefits-Services
Charities
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United Way of Greater Los Angeles
Phone: 1-213-808-6220
Website: UnitedWayLA.org -
Catholic Charities of California
Phone: 1-916-706-1539
Website: CatholicCharitiesCA.org -
Salvation Army California
Phone: 1-800-725-2769
Website: SalvationArmyCalifornia.org
Arizona State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Arizona
Healthcare and Social Services
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Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS)
Phone: 1-855-432-7587
Website: AZAHCCCS.gov -
Arizona Department of Health Services
Phone: 1-602-542-1025
Website: AZDHS.gov -
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Phone: 1-855-432-7587
Website: DES.az.gov -
Arizona 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1
Website: 211Arizona.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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St. Mary’s Food Bank
Phone: 1-602-242-3663
Website: FirstFoodBank.org -
Arizona Housing Coalition
Phone: 1-602-340-9393
Website: AZHousingCoalition.org
Legal and Financial Aid
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Community Legal Services Arizona
Phone: 1-800-852-9075
Website: CLSAZ.org -
Arizona Department of Economic Security Family Assistance
Phone: 1-855-432-7587
Website: DES.az.gov/Family-Assistance
Charities
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United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona
Phone: 1-520-903-9000
Website: UnitedWayTucson.org -
Catholic Charities Community Services
Phone: 1-602-285-1999
Website: CatholicCharitiesAZ.org -
Salvation Army Phoenix
Phone: 1-602-267-4100
Website: Phoenix.SalvationArmy.org
Alabama State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Alabama
Healthcare and Social Services
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Alabama Medicaid
Phone: 1-800-362-1504
Website: Medicaid.Alabama.gov -
Alabama Department of Public Health
Phone: 1-800-252-1818
Website: AlabamaPublicHealth.gov -
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Phone: 1-334-242-1310
Website: DHR.Alabama.gov -
United Way of Central Alabama 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-888-421-1266
Website: UWCA.org/2-1-1
Food and Housing Assistance
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Food Bank of North Alabama
Phone: 1-256-539-2256
Website: FoodBankNorthAL.org -
Alabama Housing Finance Authority
Phone: 1-800-325-2432
Website: AHFA.com
Legal and Financial Aid
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Legal Services Alabama
Phone: 1-866-456-4995
Website: LegalServicesAlabama.org -
Alabama Department of Human Resources Family Assistance
Phone: 1-334-242-1310
Website: DHR.Alabama.gov/Family_Assistance
Alaska State Benefits and Resources
Additional Benefits Resources in Alaska
Healthcare and Social Services
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Alaska Medicaid
Phone: 1-800-780-9972
Website: Medicaid.alaska.gov -
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Phone: 907-465-2800
Website: Education.alaska.gov -
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
Phone: 1-800-478-6065
Website: DHSS.alaska.gov -
Alaska 2-1-1
Phone: 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221
Website: Alaska211.org
Food and Housing Assistance
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Food Bank of Alaska
Phone: 907-272-3663
Website: FoodBankOfAlaska.org -
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Phone: 907-338-6100
Website: AHFC.us
Legal and Financial Aid
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Alaska Legal Services Corporation
Phone: 1-800-478-2572
Website: ALSC-Law.org -
Alaska Public Assistance
Phone: 1-888-804-6330
Website: DPAWeb.hss.state.ak.us
Medicare Eligibility and the Application Process
Medicare Eligibility and the Application Process
Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for individuals aged 65 and older, but it also covers certain younger individuals with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Understanding Medicare eligibility and the application process is essential for ensuring you receive the benefits you’re entitled to. This blog post will guide you through who is eligible for Medicare and how to apply for it.
Medicare Eligibility
There are several groups of people who are eligible for Medicare:
- Individuals aged 65 or older: Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Eligibility begins three months before your 65th birthday and lasts until three months after your birthday month.
- Individuals under 65 with certain disabilities: You may be eligible if you have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months.
- Individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): People with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant are eligible for Medicare at any age.
- Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, individuals with ALS are automatically enrolled in Medicare the same month their disability benefits start.
Types of Medicare Coverage
Medicare consists of different parts, each covering specific services:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans): An alternative to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) offered by private companies approved by Medicare. These plans often include Part D coverage and may offer additional benefits.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Adds prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private-Fee-for-Service Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans.
The Medicare Application Process
Applying for Medicare is a straightforward process, and there are different ways to apply depending on your circumstances:
Automatic Enrollment
If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits when you turn 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You will receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday.
Manual Enrollment
If you are not automatically enrolled, you can apply for Medicare in the following ways:
- Online: Visit the Social Security Administration’s website and fill out the online application form.
- By phone: Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778).
- In person: Visit your local Social Security office. It’s recommended to make an appointment ahead of time.
Enrollment Periods
There are specific periods during which you can sign up for Medicare:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This is a seven-month period that starts three months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after your 65th birthday.
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): If you miss your IEP, you can sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year. Coverage begins July 1 of the same year.
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): You may qualify for an SEP if you delay enrollment because you are covered under a group health plan based on current employment. The SEP lasts eight months starting the month after employment ends or the group health coverage ends, whichever happens first.
Conclusion
Understanding your Medicare eligibility and the application process is crucial for accessing the healthcare benefits you need. Whether you are approaching 65, have a qualifying disability, or have ESRD, knowing when and how to apply ensures you receive timely coverage. For more information or to start your application, visit the official Medicare website at Medicare.gov.