Click on other tabs above for information about legal aid providers and courts in your area. Below is legal information on this sub-topic. You can localize this information by clicking on the"Choose Another Location" link in the right column and selecting the area where you live.
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258 The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Online Applications, Benefit Screening, Resources and Forms
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
By: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Application for Social Services (COMPASS)
Mail-in Application for Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (PA 600WD) [PDF]
(Separate Website)
This form is a mail-in application for Medicaid health care coverage for individuals with disabilities who are employed. There are two groups of coverage: Worker with a disability, and Worker with a Medically Improved Disability. Individuals determined eligible for the program must pay a monthly premium in order to receive the health care coverage.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
PA Health Insurance Eligibility QuickScreen
(Separate Website)
This is a screening tool that the PA Health Law Project has designed, based upon the State's eligibility rules, to help you to figure out if you may be eligible for free or low-cost health care coverage. It is not an official determination of eligibility nor an application for coverage.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
GovBenefits.gov
(Separate Website)
GovBenefits.gov is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
By: GovBenefits.gov, a partnership of many Federal agencies and organizations
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Eldercare Locator
(Separate Website)
The Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Benefits Check Up for Seniors (55+)
(Separate Website)
BenefitsCheckUp is a comprehensive online service to screen for federal, state and some local private and public benefits for older adults (ages 55 and over). BenefitsCheckUp also provides a detailed description of the programs, including the local addresses and phone numbers where to apply.
By: National Council on the Aging
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Medical Assistance: Free Health Coverage Through The Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program
(Separate Website)
Information on the PA Medical Assistance Program
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
PA Health Law Project's Medical Assistance Manual [PDF]
(Separate Website)
A guide for determining your eligibility for free health coverage under the PA Medical Assistance (MA) Program
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
A Guide to Medicare and Medical Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: manual for advocates [PDF]
(Separate Website)
A comprehensive guide, created by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project in partnership with Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy. (PDF Format: 65 pages, 2.7 MB)
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Can my Family Still Keep Medical Assistance after We Go off Welfare?
(Separate Website)
Information about keeping Medical Assistance
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Important Information: Medicare Beneficiaries with Prescription Coverage Through Medical Assistance
Important Information for Medicare beneficiaries who also have prescription coverage through Medical Assistance (the ACCESS card) about what you need to do by December 31, 2005.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Important Information: Medicare Beneficiaries Who Have Prescription Coverage Through a Medicaid HMO
Important Information for Medicare Beneficiaries who also have prescription coverage through a Medical Assistance HMO (Gateway, MedPlus+, or UPMC For You) on what you need to do by December 31, 2005.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
What is HIPP? - Information on Pennsylvania's Health Insurance Premium Payment Program
(Separate Website)
Information on the PA health Insurance Premium Payment Program
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
You May Be Able to Get Better Medical Assistance!
(Separate Website)
Information on categories of Medical Assistance available in Pennsylvania.
By: Community Legal Services
Biling Issues for Consumers with both Medicare and Medical Assistance
(Separate Website)
A guide for Dual Eligible Consumers
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
How to Get Services when you are on Medicare and Medical Assistance (Fee for Service)
(Separate Website)
A Consumer’s Guide to Accessing Health Care Through Medicare and Medical Assistance Fee For Service.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
How to Get Services when you are on Medicare and Medical Assistance (HealthChoices)
(Separate Website)
A Consumer’s Guide to Accessing Health Care Through Medicare and Medical Assistance HealthChoices
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities
(Separate Website)
Information on the MAWD (Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities) Program which allows qualified persons to purchase Medical Assistance if their income does not exceed 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
What Happens to my SSI, SSDI, and Health Care if I Work? [PDF]
(Separate Website)
Information on how returning to work will impact the income received from SSI or SSDI and how the work will impact the healthcare received from Medical Assistance or Medicare.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program
(Separate Website)
Information on Medical Assistance coverage for woman with Breast or Cervical cancer or certain precancerous conditions.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
What if I Disagree with my HealthChoices Plan?: Department of Public Welfare Fair Hearings
(Separate Website)
Information on the HealthChoices managed care program for PA Medical Assistance
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Health Care Information for Immigrants
(Separate Website)
Information on the Immigrant Health Access Project (IHAP), a new initiative at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, and the various health care coverage options that are available to immigrants.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
If I am an immigrant in Pennsylvania, will the government help me pay for medical care?
(Separate Website)
Information on medical assistance for immigrants.
By: Community Legal Services
Immigrants' Rights to Public Benefits in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on the rights of immigrants to receive different types of public benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Companion to SSI: Medicaid
(Separate Website)
Information on Medicaid
By: Community Legal Services
Medical Assistance Transportation
(Separate Website)
Information about transportation services available through the PA Medical Assistance program
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
You Have the Right to Disagree with the Welfare Office
(Separate Website)
Information on filing appeals to decisions made by your County Assistance Office.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
How to Appeal Welfare Notices
(Separate Website)
Information for welfare recipients on how to appeal notices received from the Department of Public Welfare
By: Community Legal Services
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What if my Medical Providers Speak Only English?
(Separate Website)
Information about your right to be able to communicate with your health care provider
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
What are my Language Rights
(Separate Website)
Information on the HealthChoices managed care program for PA Medical Assistance
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
How to Obtain Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services in Southwestern Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
A listing of in county-specific resources for treatment in Southwestern Pennsylvania
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Special Needs Trust
An overview of what a Special Needs Trust is, who needs one, and how to get one.
By: Northwestern Legal Services
A Guide to Public Benefits An overview of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Food Stamps, and Low Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
By: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc.
Benefits Available from the Welfare Office for Low Income Persons
(Separate Website)
A Summary of Benefits avaialble through your County Assistance Office.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Homeless People CAN Get Welfare: Here’s How!
(Separate Website)
Information for the homeless on obtaining welfare benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Tips on Applying for Welfare Benefits
(Separate Website)
Helpful tips about filing an application for benefits from the Department of Public Welfare.
By: Neighborhood Legal Services Association
Impact of Criminal Record on Public Benefits in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Chart of eligibility for public benefits for people with criminal records.
By: Community Legal Services
Public Benefits Consequences of Criminal Convictions in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on the effect of a conviction on your ability to obtain and continue to receive public benefits.
By: Community Legal Services
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
Page 1 of 2
Information, Not Legal Advice. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date noted in the materials. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct.
We do not intend this information to legal advice. By providing this information, we are not acting as your lawyer. If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer through your local legal aid organization. Always talk to a competent lawyer, if you can, before taking legal action.
Lawyer Advertising. This web site is not intended to be advertising or solicitation. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based on advertisements. Before hiring an attorney, you should investigate his or her reputation and qualifications.
Links. Some of the items listed here have not been prepared by us, but are instead "links" to information prepared and posted by others. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted on other sites. The links are not intended to imply that we sponsor or are affiliated or associated with the persons who created those sites, nor are the links intended to imply that we are legally authorized to use any trade name, registered trademark, logo, legal or official seal, or copyrighted symbol that may be reflected in the links.
E-mail. Viewing this web site, or transmitting an e-mail message through this web site, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Sending e-mail to an attorney mentioned in this site does NOT create an attorney-client relationship between you and the attorney. Unless you are already a client of the attorney, your e-mail may NOT be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Moreover, unless it is encrypted, e-mail can be intercepted by persons other than the recipient.
Deadlines are extremely important in most legal matters. You may lose important legal rights if you do not obtain an attorney immediately to advise you. Many people do not check their e-mail daily, and some attorneys do not respond to unsolicited e-mail from non-clients.
PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
(Separate Website)
