Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and certain individuals with a disability. It is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Local Social Security Administration offices take applicants for enrollment.

Medicare has two parts: hospital insurance (part A) and optional medical insurance (part B). The monthly premium for Part B is deducted from the beneficiary's social security check.

Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, home healthcare and hospice care if the patient meets certain requirements. It also pays limited benefits for inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay if the patient requires daily skilled nursing/rehabilitation services that have been ordered by a physician and can only be provided in a skilled nursing facility.

Part B helps pay for the following medically necessary services: physician services, outpatient hospital services, diagnostic tests, clinical laboratory services, outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology, home healthcare, durable medical equipment and other health services and supplies.

For more information about the Medicare program and related benefits, visit the Medicare website.

Contact info

Contact the State College Social Security Office at:

901 University Drive, Suite 2

State College, PA 16801

866.864.1516

Medicaid refers to the Medical Assistance Program, a government health insurance program for low-income people with limited assets. Medicaid recipients must go to health service providers that participate in this program.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging created APPRISE, the state health assistance program for Pennsylvanians age 60 and over, to help our seniors understand their health insurance options and make sound decisions about what is best for them.

In Centre County, the APPRISE program is co-sponsored by Mount Nittany Medical Center and the Centre County Commissioners through the Office of Aging and Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP).

The toll-free APPRISE helpline may be reached at 1.800.783.7067. All services are free and confidential.