Self-Help forms and Online Resources relating to Health Law issues.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Health Benefits Advisor
The Health Benefits Advisor from the United States Department of Labor is designed to help workers and their families better understand their rights and responsibilities when they face life or work events that affect their health care benefits. It also provides general information on the laws that may apply when an employee or a member of an employee's family faces a life or work event that affects group health plan benefits.
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.
Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI)
PA MEDI is a statewide service operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and is the known and trusted local resource for Medicare help. All services are free and confidential and delivered by specially trained certified counselors through Pennsylvania’s 52 local Area Agencies on Aging.
Application for Payment of Medicare Premiums, Coinsurance and Deductibles [PDF]
The PA 600M is a mail-in application for payment of the Medicare Part B premium only. It is used to help elderly individuals or individuals with disabilities who are eligible for Medicare to pay some or all of their Medicare Part B premium. A face-to-face interview is not required when using this application. The application cannot be used to apply for Medicaid (Medical Assistance), cash assistance or food stamps. (PA 600 M (AS) 3/26)
Apply for Prescription Drug Program (PACE and PACENET)
Pennsylvania’s prescription assistance programs for older adults, PACE and PACENET, offer low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older. PACE and PACENET work with Medicare Part D plans and other prescription drug plans such as retiree/union coverage, employer plans, Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO) and Veterans’ Benefits (VA) to lower out-of-pocket costs for medications.
Check eligibility for Social Security benefits
This resource from the Social Security Administration allows you to find what Social Security benefits you may be eligible to receive. It is NOT an application for benefits. Answer a few questions to see if you qualify for benefits right now. How long it'll take: 10 minutes or less.
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.
Find government benefits and financial help
This website of the U.S. government seeks 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.
Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care Supports and Services
Application for a determination of financial eligibility for long term care facilities. (PA 600-L Form) The person who needs help to pay for nursing facility care, or someone acting on his behalf, may complete the form.
Social Security Benefit Application - Medicare
Online Medicare application from the Social Security Administration. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You’ll sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, so you can make both retirement and Medicare choices and withhold any premiums from your benefit payments.
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.
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.
Medigap Policy Search
This interactive tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services helps you Find a Medigap Policy in Your Area. In Original Medicare, you generally pay some of the costs for approved services. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private company to help pay your out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. This tool helps you find a policy to cover those out-of-pocket costs.
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.
Apply for Prescription Drug Program (PACE and PACENET)
Pennsylvania’s prescription assistance programs for older adults, PACE and PACENET, offer low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older. PACE and PACENET work with Medicare Part D plans and other prescription drug plans such as retiree/union coverage, employer plans, Medicare Advantage (HMO, PPO) and Veterans’ Benefits (VA) to lower out-of-pocket costs for medications.
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.
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 Benefits Advisor
The Health Benefits Advisor from the United States Department of Labor is designed to help workers and their families better understand their rights and responsibilities when they face life or work events that affect their health care benefits. It also provides general information on the laws that may apply when an employee or a member of an employee's family faces a life or work event that affects group health plan benefits.
Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Application for Long-Term Care Supports and Services
Application for a determination of financial eligibility for long term care facilities. (PA 600-L Form) The person who needs help to pay for nursing facility care, or someone acting on his behalf, may complete the form.
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.
Medigap Policy Search
This interactive tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services helps you Find a Medigap Policy in Your Area. In Original Medicare, you generally pay some of the costs for approved services. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private company to help pay your out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. This tool helps you find a policy to cover those out-of-pocket costs.
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.
Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI)
PA MEDI is a statewide service operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and is the known and trusted local resource for Medicare help. All services are free and confidential and delivered by specially trained certified counselors through Pennsylvania’s 52 local Area Agencies on Aging.
Social Security Benefit Application - Medicare
Online Medicare application from the Social Security Administration. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You’ll sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, so you can make both retirement and Medicare choices and withhold any premiums from your benefit payments.