Ask Medicare is a one-stop source of information and support just for caregivers like you. If you're one of the nearly 66 million Americans caring for an aging, seriously ill, or disabled family member or friend, we're here to help make your life a little easier. Learn More
Administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program. To support the role of caregivers in helping nearly 66 million Americans effectively utilize the program, Ask Medicare offers information on the following topics.
To be eligible for Medicare, you must be age 65 or older or have End Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). Individuals who are under 65 but have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability payments for 24 months are also eligible.
Ask Medicare provides answers to important questions about how to access and pay for care through the Medicare program and other sources.
One of Ask Medicare’s core objectives is to make the Medicare program easy for caregivers and Medicare beneficiaries to access and understand.
Today’s caregivers play multiple roles in helping their friends and family members obtain high quality care. In a typical day, this may require searching for the right nursing home or long-term care facility, identifying physicians and professionals to address specific health conditions, or determining the Medicare plan best suited to the needs of those in their care.
Caring for a friend or family member with a serious illness can be a real challenge, particularly when it comes to finding the right care and treatment.
Recognizing that taking care of a seriously ill, aged, or disabled friend or family member can be emotionally and physically exhausting, Ask Medicare is committed to helping caregivers manage issues such as stress and depression and providing informational resources to help them lead balanced, rewarding lives.
As a caregiver, it's important to find exactly what you're looking for — quickly and easily. Ask Medicare provides targeted information and tools to assist caregivers, but many other organizations provide materials, services and support to meet specific needs. Visit the sites of other groups who provide information and support in a range of key categories below.
If you still haven't found what you are looking for, there are other resources that may be useful.