Section 1 - Overview & Original Medicare

This section provides a list of resources addressing a broad range of high-level Medicare and Medicaid topics, from agency contacts to policy reports.

It also covers publications on Medicare Part A and Part B, also known as Original Medicare or traditional fee-for-service.

Section 2 - Rights & Protections

This section highlights the rights and protections under Federal or state law for the people served by CMS.  These rights and protections include privacy rights, Medicare-specific rights, protections offered under Medicare Advantage, and guaranteed issue rights to purchase Medigap policies.

The resource list includes procedures and forms for filing complaints, grievances, appeals, or exception requests.  It also includes information about the roles of the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman and the Quality Improvement Organizations.

Finally, this section offers tips people can use to help protect their personal health information as well as the integrity of the Medicare program.

Section 3 - Medigap & Medicare Advantage

This section provides information about Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage Plans and Other Medicare Health Plans.

The list contains information on the types of Medicare Advantage plans, including the new Regional Preferred Provider Organizations and Special Needs Plans available to people with certain health care needs.  It also contains information on Other Medicare Health Plans, like PACE and Medicare demonstrations.

Section 4 - Medicare Rx

This section lists resources useful in learning and teaching others about Medicare prescription drug coverage.  These resources provide information to help beneficiaries understand this new Medicare program and choose and join a drug plan.  Resources also include detailed information on plan operations and CMS guidance.

Section 5 - Employer & Other Insurance

This section contains information on group health insurance for people with Medicare who are still working, have retired, or have other types of health insurance, and how this coverage coordinates with Medicare.  Topics include Veterans’ Administration coverage, TRICARE, Railroad Retirement coverage, COBRA, and Workers’ Compensation.

These resources also describe how Medicare prescription drug coverage coordinates with these other types of coverage.  Many items assist current insurers in communicating with their policyholders on how the new Medicare prescription drug program impacts the options available to them.

Section 6 - ESRD & Disability

This section lists resources useful to people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or a disability.  References address eligibility, coverage, and quality of available health care services.

Section 7 - Medicare Preventive Services

This section raises awareness about the broad range of preventive services available to people with Medicare.  These services can help prevent disease, reduce complications from disease, or minimize disability caused by chronic disease, to help people live longer and healthier lives.

Section 8 - Low Income Assistance

This section includes information about the different kinds of assistance available to seniors and people with a disability who have limited income or resources.

Assistance may be federally or state funded, like the Extra Help for prescription drug coverage, the Medicare Savings Program, the Medicaid program, or State Pharmacy Assistance Programs; or it may be offered by private sources, such as Patient Assistance Programs through drug manufacturers.

Section 9 - Web Guide

The section includes a directory to help navigate the cms.gov website.