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.
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.
Need Help with Medicare? Call PA MEDI!
Information on Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI, formerly called APPRISE), an agency that helps people of any age to make informed health insurance decisions regarding Medicare.
Application for cash assistance, SNAP and Medical Assistance Benefits
You can apply for cash assistance, SNAP and Medical Assistance benefits online with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Paper forms can also be printed from the website.
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) 8/19)
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.
Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST)
On SSA BEST, you can use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find Social Security benefits you may be eligible to receive. It is not an application for benefits and will not send you free money.
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.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs offered by the PA Department of Human Services, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
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.
Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
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.
Hospital Compare - A quality tool provided by Medicare
This tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides you with information on how well the hospitals in your area care for all their adult patients with certain medical conditions. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide.
LongTermCare.gov
This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information on Long Term Care including a "Pathfinder" to provide the information that is most relevant and useful to you now.
Medicare Drug Plan Finder
The Medicare Drug Plan Finder from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can help you find and compare Medicare prescription drug plans in your area.
Medicare Eligibility & Premium Calculator
Use this calculator from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to get an estimate of when you’re eligible for Medicare and your premium amount. This calculator provides information for many but not all situations. If your situation isn’t in this calculator, contact Social Security to see if you’re eligible to enroll.
Medigap Policy Search
This interactive tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services helps you Find a Medigap Policy in Your Area.
Nursing Home Compare
Online tool to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Search for Prescription Programs
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free.
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.
COMPASS - Apply for Public Benefits and Services from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania residents can apply for a variety of programs offered by the PA Department of Human Services, including public assistance, food stamps, health care coverage, energy assistance and other social service programs at this site
Health Benefits Advisor
The Health Benefits Advisor from the United States Department of Labor is designed to help workers and their families better understand employer and employee organization (such as a union) provided group health benefits and the laws that govern them, especially when they experience changes in their life and work situations--such as marriage, childbirth, job loss or retirement.
Hospital Compare - A quality tool provided by Medicare
This tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides you with information on how well the hospitals in your area care for all their adult patients with certain medical conditions. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide.
LongTermCare.gov
This website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides information on Long Term Care including a "Pathfinder" to provide the information that is most relevant and useful to you now.
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 Drug Plan Finder
The Medicare Drug Plan Finder from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can help you find and compare Medicare prescription drug plans in your area.
Medigap Policy Search
This interactive tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services helps you Find a Medigap Policy in Your Area.
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® - your guide to reliable health information
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.
Need Help with Medicare? Call PA MEDI!
Information on Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI, formerly called APPRISE), an agency that helps people of any age to make informed health insurance decisions regarding Medicare.
Nursing Home Compare
Online tool to provide detailed information about the past performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country.
Social Security Benefit Application - Medicare
Online Medicare application from the Social Security Administration.
Medicaid and Long-Term Care Quiz
Medicaid, the nation’s major publicly financed health insurance program, plays an important role in the delivery and financing of long-term care (LTC) services. These services include a broad range of paid and unpaid medical and personal care assistance. Long-term care is not medical in nature. Instead, it provides help with regular daily activities to support independent living. People may need LTC over a period of weeks, months, or years.