Medical Debt and Seniors: How Consumer Law Can Help
(Separate Website)
Americans are living longer, in part due to dramatic advances in medical care. One of the costs of longer life expectancies is that someone has to pay for this medical care. While access to quality medical care is essential for seniors and should be a universal right, it can leave them saddled with unmanageable medical debt. Consumer law remedies are critical in helping seniors avoid financial ruin due to overwhelming medical bills.
By: National Consumer Law Center
What is Elder Abuse?
Elder abuse affects people of all backgrounds without regard for social status, income, sex, or race. Four to ten percent of elders will be a victim of abuse. Elder abuse is grossly underreported and investigated. Victims are often ashamed and fear reporting their abusers. In addition, victims often do not know where to find help. This brochure is aimed at providing information and resources for victims as well as defining laws pertaining to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
EarnBenefits Online
(Separate Website)
Find if you qualify for public health benefits and find out how to apply.
By: Seedco
Immunization in Georgia
(Separate Website)
Through collaboration with public and private providers, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders, work to increase immunization rates for all Georgians and decrease the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources
2009 Guide to Benefits Programs for the Older Georgians This brochure is a brief guide to benefits that are available for people who are 60 years old or older, including information on Medicaid, Nursing Home Medicaid, Medicare, Hospital Medicare, Nursing Home Medicare, Medicare Buy-In programs, Food Stamps, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and the Community Care Services Program.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
Are You Eligible for Any Government Benefits?
(Separate Website)
Enter information into this website and it will give you a report on benefits you may be eligible to receive.
By: GovBenefits, A Partnership of Federal Agencies and Organizations
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Benefits Check Up
(Separate Website)
This web site provides information about what benefits seniors may be eligible for. You will be required to fill out a form on the Internet.
By: National Council on the Aging
Links to Georgia Resources for Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing Homes, Personal Care and Home Health Care
(Separate Website)
This web site provides additional links to resources in Georgia for Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing Homes and Personal Care Homes and Home Health Care providers.
By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia
Hospital Bills May Be Covered by the Indigent Care Trust Fund
This brochure explains what the Indigent Care Trust Fund (ICTF) is. It tells what hospitals that have the ITCF must do and cannot do. The brochure also tells you how you can apply for the ICTF and which hospitals in each county have the ICTF program.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Relative Adoption Benefits Can Affect Your Eligibility for Other Benefits Programs Adoption can change healthcare coverage or other benefits programs.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
The Georgia Statutory Financial Power of Attorney During the 1995 Georgia General Assembly, the Legislature voted to establish within the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, at ' 10-6-140, a statutory form for the Financial Power of Attorney. The form that is set out in the statute may be used to create a Financial Power of Attorney. This form is merely a suggestion and is not the only form permitted to create a Financial Power of Attorney.
The information attached includes an explanation of the Financial Power of Attorney, cautionary language to those considering giving someone power over their financial affairs and instructions for completing the statutory form. Finally, attached is a copy of the form substantially the same as the form which appears in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
By: Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services
Choosing a Health Plan That Is Right for You
(Separate Website)
Your employer, Medicare, or Medicaid may soon tell you that you need to choose a health plan. This guide answers three important questions:
What does it mean to choose a health plan?
How do I make the right choice?
What do I do if things go wrong?
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Spanish / Español
Health Care and Managing Changes
(Separate Website)
Whether you’re changing jobs, having a baby, or helping a parent, you can’t afford to lose your access to good medical care. Here you’ll find articles to help you manage these transitions.
By: National Health Law Program (HealthCareCoach.com)
Basics of Medicaid
Medicaid is a health care program funded by the federal and state governments to help people with low incomes pay their medical bills.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Medicaid for the Aged, Blind or Disabled
(Separate Website)
Medicaid is a federal and state program that pays the medical expenses of people based on their financial need. The Georgia Department of Medical Assistance (the "DMA") runs the Medicaid program in Georgia, and the county offices of the Division of Family and Children Services ("DFACS") of the Georgia Department of Human Resources provide field services.
This Section discusses the 5 different types of Medicaid that senior citizens are most likely to use: general Medicaid, qualified Medicare beneficiary ("QMB"), specified low-income Medicare beneficiary ("SLMB"), ABD Medically Needy Medicaid, and nursing home Medicaid. In addition, the Section on At Home Care in this Website discusses community care Medicaid.
By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia
Protect your Medicaid rights - Ask for a fair hearing
This document explains your rights if you have problems with Medicaid, including: (1) the right to receive a written notice when the state plans to cut off your Medicaid, deny you services, or take any other action that is unfavorable to you, (2) the right to 10 days notice before the state cuts off your Medicaid (in almost all cases), and (3) the right to a fair hearing if you disagree with a decision the state makes, you have the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing is a chance to get state officials to change their decision about your case.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
Korean / 한국어
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Have You Lost Your Nursing Home Medically Needy Medicaid?
The Nursing Home Medically Needy Medicaid Program is ending as of July 1, 2004. If you receive Medicaid coverage under this program and your income is higher than the state will allow under the regular nursing home Medicaid program you will lose your Medicaid coverage after June 30, 2004. However, there is a way you may be able to protect your Medicaid. You may be able to set up a Medicaid Irrevocable Qualified Income Trust. (This is sometimes called a "Miller Trust.") If you put some of your Social Security and/or pension check into this special trust each month, it will not count against you for Medicaid eligibility. If you do this, you should be able to continue to pay for your care as you do now and still get Medicaid.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
A Snapshot of Estate Recovery in Georgia The state of Georgia may place a lien on your real and personal property if you received Medicaid while in a nursing home or intermediate care home or mental institution.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Medicare
(Separate Website)
The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
GeorgiaCares - Health Insurance Counseling, Assistance and Referrals for the Elderly GeorgiaCares is deisgned to educate and help seniors apply for all available low cost prescription drug assistance programs. Trained volunteer counselors help Medicare beneficiaries sort through the complexities of Medicare and related health insurance concerns. Call GeorgiaCares at Call 1-800-669-8387 for (1) information about low cost prescription assistance programs, health insurance, managed care, long term care insurance, Medigap (Medical Supplemental Insurance), Medicare savings program, and (2) Help with applying for all low cost prescription assistance programs, understanding your rights as a Medicare beneficiary, analyzing your Medicare Summary Notice, comparing and evaluating health insurance and managed care plans, sorting through medical bills and assistance filing medical claims, (3) assistance with complicated Medicare problems, (4) referrals to other appropriate agencies, (5) community education, and (6) counseling in person and by phone.
By: GeorgiaCares
Read this in:
Chinese / 中文
,
German / Deutsch
,
Haitian Creole / Kreyòl ayisyen
,
Korean / 한국어
,
Russian / Pусский
,
Somali / Soomaali
,
Spanish / Español
,
Vietnamese / Tiếng Việt
Medicare: Government Health Insurance for Seniors
(Separate Website)
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that helps pay the hospital and other medical expenses of people age 65 or older and certain disabled people. The program is funded by monthly premiums from the insured people and by taxes paid by employers and workers. The Social Security Administration and the Railroad Retirement Board local offices accept applications for Medicare and provide general information about the program.
There are two parts to the Medicare program. Part A, Basic Hospital Insurance, and Part B, Supplementary Medical Insurance. In general, Part A covers inpatient care in a hospital, skilled nursing home, or hospice that participates in the Medicare program and home health care provided through a home health agency that participates in the Medicare program. Almost all hospitals and a number of skilled nursing homes, hospices, and home health agencies participate in the Medicare program.
By: Elder Law Committee of State Bar of Georgia
Medicare Information
(Separate Website)
Information on Medicare basics, making Medicare choices, selecting Medicare supplemental insurance, your Medicare rights, etc.
By: American Association of Retired Persons
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
(Separate Website)
Information on applying for the Medicare prescription drug benefit
By: Medicare.gov
Medicare Preventative Services to Keep You Healthy
(Separate Website)
Medicare pays for many preventive services. These benefits are described in the Medicare Preventive Services To Help Keep You Healthy publication.
The preventive services listed in this publication are: (1) Mammography for breast cancer screening, (2) Pap smears for cervical cancer screening, (3) Tests for colorectal cancer screening, (4) Bone mass measurements for osteoporosis, (5) Diabetes self-management and blood glucose monitoring, (6) Flu and Pneumonia vaccinations. These Medicare benefits can be a key to long lasting good health. Your doctor can help you determine your health risks and need for these preventive screenings.
By: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Premiums Assistance
You can get help paying your Medicare Premiums through the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program. The QMB program pays Medicare premiums, coinsurance and deductibles.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Medicare.gov - The Official Government Web Site for People with Medicare
(Separate Website)
This web site contains government information and a number of government publications for downloading in PDF format, including information about: (1) Medicare eligibility, enrollment and premiums, (2) Medicare claims and appeals, (3) choosing health care providers, nursing homes, personal care homes that take Medicare insurance, (4) deductible, coinsurance and premium amounts, and (5) special programs, including prescription drug assistance programs, that are available to help Medicare Beneficiaries pay for their health care costs, and (6) "Medigap" insurance - finding supplemental insurance policies to cover expenses not paid by Medicare.
By: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Medicare Part D Prescripton Drug Coverage
Medicare Part D Resources
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Questions and Answers
Questions and answers about the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
By: State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project
Seniors and People with Disabilities: You Can Get Help with Your Medicare Costs
This brochure tells you about special Medicaid programs that can pay some of your Medicare expenses.
By: Georgia Legal Services Program®
What if I'm Already the Trustee of a Qualified Income Trust, What Do I Do Every Month?
If you have already been named Trustee of a QIT, it is most important that you manage the deposit of money into and withdrawal of money out of the QIT properly so that the nursing home resident will continue to be eligible to receive Nursing Home Medicaid. If the Trustee fails to properly handle the QIT, this may result in the termination of Medicaid benefits for the resident, as well as an obligation to repay the program for payments made on the resident?s behalf those months that the QIT was improperly managed.
By: Atlanta Legal Aid Society
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LegalAid-GA.org provides general information only. This is not legal advice and cannot replace legal advice. You can get legal advice only from a lawyer. Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not hire an attorney immediately to advise you. Viewing this web site or sending an e-mail message through this web site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship.
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