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Need help? Turn to the Link Tank
By NANCY PARADIS, Times Action Columnist The cliche "knowledge is power" is perhaps most important when we approach our senior years and anything that can go wrong does. Maybe Medicare denies a claim it has always paid. Or you realize you can no longer drive but have no idea how to find alternate transportation. Or maybe you're confused about long-term care insurance and you want someone to explain it to you, preferably not someone trying to sell you a policy. The Link Tank debuts today as a resource guide (one that we hope you will clip and save) for some of life's most pressing questions. Think of it as a how-to and a road map. The following is a partial list of some of our favorite information sources, Web sites and phone numbers. * * * Elder helpline, toll-free 1-800-963-5337; http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs administers human services programs for the elderly, including in-home services for those who are frail, health insurance assistance, nursing home preadmission counseling and screening, etc. Adult Protective Services abuse hotline, toll-free 1-800-962-2873. Florida Department of Children and Families helpline for reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly. Our list of Medicare numbers is lengthy. National Medicare helpline, toll-free 1-800-633-4227; www.medicare.gov. For questions/concerns about your Medicare rights, call Florida's Medicare helpline toll-free at 1-800-844-0795; www.fmqai.com. For questions about Medicare coverage and bills for inpatient hospital stays and nursing home care, call First Coast Service Options toll-free at 1-800-333-7586, or Mutual of Omaha toll-free at 1-877-647-6528. For questions about Medicare coverage or bills for physician's office visits, outpatient tests or surgery, outpatient hospital stays, preventive healthcare services, call First Coast Service Options toll-free at 1-800-333-7586. For questions about Medicare coverage or bills for home health care, hospice care or durable medical equipment, call PGBA toll-free at 1-800-583-2236, press "1" for English then "0." Press "2" for Spanish. To sign up for Medicare Part B or to replace a lost Medicare card, contact your local Social Security office (check your phone book) or call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. For help figuring out Medicare or help with Medicare paperwork, call SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) toll-free at 1-800-963-5337. Division of Consumer Services helpline, toll-free 1-800-435-7352; www.800helpfla.com. This division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services serves as a clearing house for consumer protection, information and complaints. Federal Trade Commission, toll-free 1-877-382-4357; www.ftc.gov The federal government's principal consumer protection agency has broad jurisdiction over many business and consumer transactions. Although it does not become involved in individual disputes, it does look for patterns of possible violations of the law. Information from consumers about consumer fraud, misleading advertising, credit cards and other consumer protection matters is vital to the law enforcement efforts. Its consumer publications, available in print and online, cover a wealth of consumer-related topics. FirstGov for Seniors: www.seniors.gov. The Internet has become an increasingly important source for information about government programs, and this Web site offers a convenient way to access a wide range of federal programs and information. If you don't have a computer at home, most libraries have computers you can use. 2003 The Consumer Action Handbook. U.S. General Service Administration, Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC), Pueblo, CO 81009; toll-free 1-888-878-3256. No home should be without this free handbook, which is current through the summer of 2004. It offers advice on a variety of topics from car repair to how to invest wisely, from health care to travel tips, and includes lists of corporate consumer contacts and selected state and federal agencies. The book (as well as related brochures) also may be ordered and viewed online at www.pueblo.gsa.gov, click on consumer action Web site. National Contact Center, toll-free 1-800-333-4636. Also part of FCIC, the center can answer questions about federal agencies, programs, benefits and services. -- Write to Nancy Paradis in care of Seniority, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times Seniority pages |
