Allied Medicare groups

There are hundreds of groups both in and outside of New York State that are allied with workers and retirees to restore and protect traditional Medicare benefits. The following is a short list of names and headquarter addresses of selected organizations/groups the AFT and NYSUT continue to work with on Medicare battles in the Congress. Please feel free to contact their main headquarters to ascertain information and facts on Medicare issues and related advocacy activities in your local area.

American Federation of Teachers 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington , D.C. 20001 1(800) 238-1133 www.aft.org New York State Alliance for Retired Americans 800 Troy Schenectady Road Latham , New York 12110 (518) 783-6231 National: www.retiredamericans.org New York State : www.NYSARA.org New York Statewide Senior Action Council 275 State Street Albany , New York 12210 (518) 436-1006 www.nysenior.org

Metro New York Health Care for All Campaign 75 Varick Manhattan , NY 10013 (212) 925 1829 Citizen Action of New York Health Care Project 94 Central Avenue Albany , New York 12206 (518) 465-4600, x101 Families USA Health Action Center 1334 "G" Street, N.W. Washington , D.C. 20005 (202) 628-3030 Medicare Rights Center Phone: (800) 333-4114 Fax: (212) 869-3532 www.medicarerights.org

Phone numbers and hotlines

National

Social Security Administration & Medicare:

1 (800) 772-1213. This Social Security information line is open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday to Friday. Recorded Social Security information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you have a touch-tone phone.

1 (800) 325-0778	TTY-TDD # for the hearing and speech impaired
1 (800) 633-4227	Medicare Questions About New Bush Law

www.ssa.gov . Social Security maintains a comprehensive Internet home page.

New York State

Department of Health Patient Rights Hotlines:

Adult Homes 1 (866) 893-6772	lines open during daytime business hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm voice mail messages are periodically checked on weekends
Nursing Homes 1 (888) 201-4563	lines open during daytime business hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm only
Home Care 1 (800) 628-5972	lines open during business hours 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday
Hospitals 1 (800) 220-7184	Lines open during business hours. You must let operator know what region of state hospital is located

The New York State Department of Health can investigate whether or not a Medicare beneficiary is being prematurely discharged from a hospital or health care facility.

Attorney General's Healthcare Bureau line:
1 (888) 692-4422 -- available 24 hours

Healthcare complaint should be directed to the Healthcare Bureau

The Attorney General's office can begin investigations against hospitals, healthcare facilities and HMOs within 24 hours of a complaint.

If you have access to a computer, this may interest you:

Determine the amount of your out-of-pocket expenses

Medicare Drug Benefit Calculator at www.kaisernetwork.org/static/kncalc.cfm