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This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Other Health Care Information in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Disability
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or “Disability” provides monthly payments to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work.
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)
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.
Social Security Benefits for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Information from the National Association of Social Workers for people with HIV infection regarding disability benefits available through Social Security. This serves as a resource guide for social workers and other care providers to assist clients with determining eligibility and applying to these federal programs.
Trans Youth Handbook
This Handbook was created to help you learn about your legal rights in different areas of your life. The information in this Handbook should not be considered legal advice. This Handbook provides legal information but does not attempt to apply that information to any specific situation. This guide was fully updated in September 2024 and partially updated in April 2025 to indicate areas where the law may be changing or uncertain.
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.
Accessing Abortion Care in Pennsylvania
You have the Right to Choose in Pennsylvania. Under Pennsylvania law, abortions are legal through the end of the 23rd week of pregnancy, and can occur after that time when the health of the pregnant woman is in danger. Both procedural and medication abortions are legal in Pennsylvania.
Directory of Local Health Departments in Pennsylvania
This is a tool to help you search for local health departments in your area. The listings provide contact information for local health departments across Pennsylvania.
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 Department of Health
Website of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Health is to promote healthy behaviors, prevent injury and disease, and to assure the safe delivery of quality health care for all people in Pennsylvania. Our goal is to create a healthy Pennsylvania for all.
What Young People Seeking an Abortion In Pennsylvania Need to Know About Their Rights, Parental Consent, and Judicial Bypass
Under Pennsylvania law, people under 18 years old are required to get permission from a parent to have an abortion OR obtain an order from a judge to permit the minor to have an abortion without telling their parents. This resource from the Women's Law Project provides information about the rights of minors to obtain an abortion and the process for meeting the legal requirements for obtaining an abortion.
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.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
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.
An Informational Guide to Compassionate Release in Pennsylvania
Compassionate release allows sick inmates to be released from prison early if certain requirements are met. The requirements are laid out in a Pennsylvania statute which allows an inmate's sentencing judge to allow the early release upon review of a properly filed motion meeting the requirements of the law. (2014)
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 Dental Coverage for Adults
Information on Dental Coverage under Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance program. If you are age 21 and older and covered by Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program, you likely have dental coverage. (July 2017)
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.
Power of Attorney in Pennsylvania
Information from Northwestern Legal Services on what is a Power of Attorney (POA), guidelines when selecting an agent, what happens if I become mentally unable to make my own decisions, when does it go into effect, when does it end, and the process involved in setting up a POA. (10/2018)
Prisoners' Rights Handbook
A handbook from the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project which provides an overview of the rights of prisoners. This provides a Guide to Correctional Law Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States & the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2013)
Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney
The Allegheny County Medical Society and the Allegheny County Bar Association have made this document available, as a public service, to support you in making important decisions to record your wishes for end of life healthcare. By selecting a healthcare agent, and writing down your wishes, you are helping your family and physician honor your wishes, and empowering your loved ones to advocate on your behalf. The ACBA hopes that this document will serve to guide and help you to think about and record those important decisions, and provide you and your family with the gift of peace of mind. (March 2022)
Confidentiality of HIV-Related Information, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment and Mental Health Records
Information from the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania on federal and state laws requiring that a person's HIV status be kept confidential.
What Young People Seeking an Abortion In Pennsylvania Need to Know About Their Rights, Parental Consent, and Judicial Bypass
Under Pennsylvania law, people under 18 years old are required to get permission from a parent to have an abortion OR obtain an order from a judge to permit the minor to have an abortion without telling their parents. This resource from the Women's Law Project provides information about the rights of minors to obtain an abortion and the process for meeting the legal requirements for obtaining an abortion.
Accessing Abortion Care in Pennsylvania
You have the Right to Choose in Pennsylvania. Under Pennsylvania law, abortions are legal through the end of the 23rd week of pregnancy, and can occur after that time when the health of the pregnant woman is in danger. Both procedural and medication abortions are legal in Pennsylvania.
Disability
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or “Disability” provides monthly payments to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work.
Health Information Privacy Complaint
Information on when you may file a health information privacy and security complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) if you feel a covered entity or business associate violated your (or someone else’s) health information privacy rights or committed another violation of the Privacy, Security or Breach Notification Rules. Complaints can be filed online or in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail.
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 Keep Your Health Information Private and Secure
There are laws that protect the privacy of your health information held by those who provide you health care services. But as it becomes easier to get and share your own health information online, you need to take steps to protect it. This applies whether you are downloading a copy of your health information, emailing your doctor, taking an online health survey, or using a variety of digital apps or devices to monitor your health. This information from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, within the Department of Health and Human Services, will help guide you in protecting your personal health information.
If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help
Information from the Social Security Administration for those who are blind or have low vision regarding benefits you may be eligible for through Social Security. Written and Audio brochure.
Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services
Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services on the intellectual and developmental disability service system in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania offers county-administered programs for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, and autism (ID/DD/A) to live and thrive in their homes and communities.
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.
Mental Health Care Advance Directive
A Mental Health Advance Directive is a document that allows you to make your choices known regarding mental health treatment in the event that your mental illness makes you unable to make decisions. This packet provides information and forms to allow you to prepare documents to fit you needs regarding an advance directive. [PDF]
MyHealthfinder®
MyHealthfinder® is an award-winning Federal Web site, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with other Federal agencies. It has been recognized as a key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet. MyHealthfinder® links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,700 health-related organizations.
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 Adoption Information Registry
The Pennsylvania Adoption Information Registry is a medical and social history database maintained by the Department of Human Services for adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth relatives who would like to share or obtain medical or social history about themselves or their birth relatives.
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Website of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Health is to promote healthy behaviors, prevent injury and disease, and to assure the safe delivery of quality health care for all people in Pennsylvania. Our goal is to create a healthy Pennsylvania for all.
Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Search
Search aid from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help you locate health facilities in Pennsylvania.
Consent, Capacity and Substitute Decision-Making
This manual provides people with disabilities, their family members, service providers, and others with information about the important issues related to decision-making and preserving people's right to make decisions for oneself to the maximum extent possible.
Directory of Local Health Departments in Pennsylvania
This is a tool to help you search for local health departments in your area. The listings provide contact information for local health departments across Pennsylvania.
If Your Residential Mental Health Services are Terminated
This fact sheet addresses the rights of adults with mental illness who received notices of termination of services from their residential program providers.
Private Disability Insurance
This fact sheet from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania contains general information about private disability insurance. (February 2018)
Social Security Benefits for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Information from the National Association of Social Workers for people with HIV infection regarding disability benefits available through Social Security. This serves as a resource guide for social workers and other care providers to assist clients with determining eligibility and applying to these federal programs.
Trans Youth Handbook
This Handbook was created to help you learn about your legal rights in different areas of your life. The information in this Handbook should not be considered legal advice. This Handbook provides legal information but does not attempt to apply that information to any specific situation. This guide was fully updated in September 2024 and partially updated in April 2025 to indicate areas where the law may be changing or uncertain.
Accessing Abortion Care in Pennsylvania
You have the Right to Choose in Pennsylvania. Under Pennsylvania law, abortions are legal through the end of the 23rd week of pregnancy, and can occur after that time when the health of the pregnant woman is in danger. Both procedural and medication abortions are legal in Pennsylvania.
What Young People Seeking an Abortion In Pennsylvania Need to Know About Their Rights, Parental Consent, and Judicial Bypass
Under Pennsylvania law, people under 18 years old are required to get permission from a parent to have an abortion OR obtain an order from a judge to permit the minor to have an abortion without telling their parents. This resource from the Women's Law Project provides information about the rights of minors to obtain an abortion and the process for meeting the legal requirements for obtaining an abortion.