The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) –
an organization in your state that provides free Medicare help and information.
The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a state organization
paid by the federal government to give free health insurance information and help
to people with Medicare. HICAP can explain your Medicare rights and protections,
help you make complaints about care or treatment, and help straighten out problems
with Medicare bills.
You can contact the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at
1-800-434-0222. You can also find the website for HICAP at
www.medicare.gov on the web.
Lumetra Medical Operations
Lumetra Medical Operations – a group of doctors and health professionals
in your state who review medical care and handle certain types of complaints from
patients with Medicare
“QIO” stands for Quality Improvement
Organization. The QIO is a group of doctors and other health
care experts paid by the federal government to check on and help improve the care
given to Medicare patients. There is a QIO in each state. QIOs have different names,
depending on which state they are in. In California, the QIO is called Lumetra Medical
Operations. The doctors and other health experts in Lumetra Medical Operations
review certain types of complaints made by Medicare patients. These include complaints
about quality of care and complaints from Medicare patients who think the coverage
for their hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, or comprehensive
outpatient rehabilitation stay is ending too soon.
You can contact Lumetra Medical Operations at: Lumetra Medical Operations,
One Sansome Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94104-4488, or call them
at 1-800-841-1602.
Medicaid agency
Medicaid agency – a state government agency that handles health
care programs for people with low incomes
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for
some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medi-Cal is the name for Medicaid
in California. Some people with Medicare are also eligible for Medicaid. Most
health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid
also has programs that can help pay for your Medicare premiums and other costs,
if you qualify. To find out more about Medicaid and its programs, contact Medi-Cal
at 1-800-541-5555.
State Pharmacy Assistance Program (SPAP)
State Pharmacy Assistance Programs are state-sponsored programs that provide individuals
with disabilities increased access to prescription drugs. The Genetically
Handicapped Persons Program (GHPP) provides assistance in California. You
can call GHPP at either 800-639-0597 or 916-327-0470.
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration provides economic protection for Americans of
all ages. Social Security programs include retirement benefits, disability, family
benefits, survivors’ benefits, and benefits for the aged, blind, and disabled. You
can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should
call 1-800-325-0778. Calls to these numbers are free. You can also visit
www.ssa.gov on the web.
Railroad Retirement Board
Railroad Retirement Board
If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, you can call your
local Railroad Retirement Board office or 1-800-808-0772 (calls to this number are
free). TTY users should call 312-751-4701. You can also visit
www.rrb.gov on the web.