General questions on Social Security Benefits, Retirement, Medicare, etc.
Social Security: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/
Phone: The Social Security office has a toll-free number that operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.: 1-800-772-1213. If you have a touch-tone phone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call their toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please have your Social Security number handy when you call.
*Easy Q&A on Social Security benefits
Medicare and Medicaid:
Medicare:
Medicare is an insurance program. Medical bills are paid from trust funds which those covered have paid into. It serves people over 65 primarily, whatever their income; and serves younger disabled people and dialysis patients. Patients pay part of costs through deductibles for hospital and other costs. Small monthly premiums are required for non-hospital coverage. Medicare is a federal program. It is basically the same everywhere in the United States and is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the federal government. (http://www.hhs.gov/faq/medicaremedicaid/85.html)
Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486- 2048.
*Easy Q&A on Medicare
Medicaid:
Medicaid is an assistance program. Medical bills are paid from federal, state and local tax funds. It serves low-income people of every age. Patients usually pay no part of costs for covered medical expenses. A small co-payment is sometimes required. Medicaid is a federal-state program. It varies from state to state. It is run by state and local governments within federal guidelines. (http://www.hhs.gov/faq/medicaremedicaid/85.html)
Phone: Local: 1-512-458-7111, Tollfree: 1-888-963-7111, TTY: 1-512-458-7708
Other:
Texas State Department of Health Services
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Phone: (512) 438-3011
Texas Health and Human Services Commission:
Phone: Call 2-1-1 for access to information about health and human services in your community. If you are calling from outside of Texas, or have technical difficulties when dialing 2-1-1 from your cell/mobile, voice-over-IP, or office location phone, please dial their toll free alternate access number at 1-877-541-7905.
