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This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Adult Health Care issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Accessing the Community HealthChoices Waiver: A Guide to Waiver Eligibility for Advocates
This guide provides an overview of the application process for the Community HealthChoices waiver – including the functional eligibility review and the County Assistance Office (CAO) financial eligibility review. To qualify, applicants must be aged 21 or older and meet both functional and financial eligibility standards. Functional eligibility is determined by looking at a person’s ability to perform certain activities and tasks that are needed for daily living. Financial eligibility is determined by looking at a person’s income and resources (assets), such as bank accounts, property, and retirement accounts. (February 2026)
Health Insurance Marketplaces
In Pennsylvania you can use Pennie to enroll in health coverage. Outside Pennsylvania you can enroll in health coverage through Healthcare.gov. You can use these site to find or enroll in coverage if you have experienced certain life events or have limited income.
How to Obtain Mental Health Services and Substance Use Treatment in Pennsylvania
A guide from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explaining how to obtain Mental Health Services and Drug & Alcohol Services under various programs in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (September 2024)
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) - A Guide to Eligibility
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) is a state health insurance program for people who are working and have a disability or serious health condition. MAWD is often a good option for people who make too much money to qualify for other categories of Medical Assistance (MA or Medicaid) but who nonetheless need health insurance. MAWD provides comprehensive health insurance coverage and as compared to other MA programs, has high income and resource limits. MAWD also has flexible work and disability requirements. This guide explains each MAWD eligibility requirement in depth and tells you how to apply for MAWD coverage. (2026)
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Reminder! Keep Your Medicaid Case File Up to Date
This information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explains how to update your case file information with Medicaid. If you are on Medicaid now, be sure to update your contact information, like mailing address and phone number, with the County Assistance Office. This will help ensure you get important updates and renewal paperwork in the mail and by phone. (September 29, 2025)
Updating Your Medicaid Case File After Legally Changing Your Name and/or Gender or Sex Marker
When you legally change your name and/or sex marker, there are several steps that you need to take to ensure that your Medicaid is not affected and that you are served in the most appropriate manner. This resource from Pennsylvania Health Law Project outlines the steps you need to take to update your Medicaid case file following a change of your legal name and/or gender/sex marker. (June 2023)
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Protections
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) includes protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. WHCRA provides that group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide coverage for medical and surgical benefits with respect to mastectomies must also cover certain post-mastectomy benefits, including reconstructive surgery and the treatment of complications (such as lymphedema).
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. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government whose mission is to increase citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. It is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive. Use the benefit finder tool or search by category to learn which benefits you and your family may be eligible for and learn how to apply for what you qualify for.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information, including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP and other social service programs.
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Explore your Medicare Coverage Options
This tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can help you find and compare Medicare coverage options for health care and prescription drug plans in your area. Get more coverage, once you have Part A and/or Part B.
Local County Assistance Offices
County Assistance Offices are located throughout Pennsylvania. You can submit applications and renewals at your local county assistance office drop box or online using COMPASS. Caseworkers are available at the county assistance office to help you and answer your questions in person or over the phone, if the office is closed to the public. This is a listing of the location and how to contact local County Assistance Offices in Pennsylvania.
Medicare: Find & compare providers near you
You can use this tool to find and compare different types of Medicare providers (like physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and others). Use our maps and filters to help you identify providers that are right for you.
Reminder! Keep Your Medicaid Case File Up to Date
This information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explains how to update your case file information with Medicaid. If you are on Medicaid now, be sure to update your contact information, like mailing address and phone number, with the County Assistance Office. This will help ensure you get important updates and renewal paperwork in the mail and by phone. (September 29, 2025)
Updating Your Medicaid Case File After Legally Changing Your Name and/or Gender or Sex Marker
When you legally change your name and/or sex marker, there are several steps that you need to take to ensure that your Medicaid is not affected and that you are served in the most appropriate manner. This resource from Pennsylvania Health Law Project outlines the steps you need to take to update your Medicaid case file following a change of your legal name and/or gender/sex marker. (June 2023)
Accessing the Community HealthChoices Waiver: A Guide to Waiver Eligibility for Advocates
This guide provides an overview of the application process for the Community HealthChoices waiver – including the functional eligibility review and the County Assistance Office (CAO) financial eligibility review. To qualify, applicants must be aged 21 or older and meet both functional and financial eligibility standards. Functional eligibility is determined by looking at a person’s ability to perform certain activities and tasks that are needed for daily living. Financial eligibility is determined by looking at a person’s income and resources (assets), such as bank accounts, property, and retirement accounts. (February 2026)
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) Medical Assistance Benefits
There are special circumstances that allow people to keep getting Medicaid after their SSI benefits end. One of those special circumstances applies to people who are considered a “disabled adult child” and collect Social Security benefits from a parent’s record when that parent becomes disabled, retires, or passes away. If someone loses their SSI because they start to collect these Social Security Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits, or because they receive an increase in DAC benefits, special Medicaid eligibility rules apply. Learn about these special rules that may allow the person with a disability to keep their Medicaid coverage. (2023)
How to Obtain Mental Health Services and Substance Use Treatment in Pennsylvania
A guide from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explaining how to obtain Mental Health Services and Drug & Alcohol Services under various programs in Pennsylvania. [PDF] (September 2024)
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) - A Guide to Eligibility
Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) is a state health insurance program for people who are working and have a disability or serious health condition. MAWD is often a good option for people who make too much money to qualify for other categories of Medical Assistance (MA or Medicaid) but who nonetheless need health insurance. MAWD provides comprehensive health insurance coverage and as compared to other MA programs, has high income and resource limits. MAWD also has flexible work and disability requirements. This guide explains each MAWD eligibility requirement in depth and tells you how to apply for MAWD coverage. (2026)
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. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
Reminder! Keep Your Medicaid Case File Up to Date
This information from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project explains how to update your case file information with Medicaid. If you are on Medicaid now, be sure to update your contact information, like mailing address and phone number, with the County Assistance Office. This will help ensure you get important updates and renewal paperwork in the mail and by phone. (September 29, 2025)
Updating Your Medicaid Case File After Legally Changing Your Name and/or Gender or Sex Marker
When you legally change your name and/or sex marker, there are several steps that you need to take to ensure that your Medicaid is not affected and that you are served in the most appropriate manner. This resource from Pennsylvania Health Law Project outlines the steps you need to take to update your Medicaid case file following a change of your legal name and/or gender/sex marker. (June 2023)
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program
The Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP) is a free breast and cervical cancer screening program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Breast and cervical cancer screenings are important to look for signs of cancer, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information, including SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP and other social service programs.
Coverage for Young Adults - Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act: Protecting Young Adults and Eliminating Burdens on Families and Businesses
Information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the Affordable Care Act provisions that allow young adults to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26.
Explore your Medicare Coverage Options
This tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can help you find and compare Medicare coverage options for health care and prescription drug plans in your area. Get more coverage, once you have Part A and/or Part B.
Health Insurance
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department provides information on the options available for health insurance in Pennsylvania. Health insurance covers essential health benefits, medical care for illness and accidents, and protects you from unexpected, high medical costs. Choosing health insurance is one of the most important decisions you can make to help protect your and your family's health and well-being.
Health Insurance Marketplaces
In Pennsylvania you can use Pennie to enroll in health coverage. Outside Pennsylvania you can enroll in health coverage through Healthcare.gov. You can use these site to find or enroll in coverage if you have experienced certain life events or have limited income.
Medicare: Find & compare providers near you
You can use this tool to find and compare different types of Medicare providers (like physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and others). Use our maps and filters to help you identify providers that are right for you.
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
Information on the Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which is a free breast and cervical cancer early detection program of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It is funded by the Department of Health and through a grant the Department receives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Search
Search aid from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help you locate health facilities in Pennsylvania.
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Protections
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) includes protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. WHCRA provides that group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide coverage for medical and surgical benefits with respect to mastectomies must also cover certain post-mastectomy benefits, including reconstructive surgery and the treatment of complications (such as lymphedema).