Hot Lines

New York State Government Hotlines

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New York State Office for the Aging

[aging.state.ny.us]

• Senior Citizen Hotline

  Call the Senior Citizens' Hotline for information about programs and services for the elderly in New York State, or the telephone number or address of your local Office for the Aging or local Social Services Office.

  • 1-800-342-9871
• Health Insurance Infomation & Assistance Program
  (HIICAP):
  [hiicap.state.ny.us]

  Call HIICAP for health insurance counseling, assistance and information from trained staff and volunteer counselors about Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, long-term care insurance and other health insurance related concerns.

  • 1-800-701-0501
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
  (LTCOP):
  [ombudsman.state.ny.us]

  This office protects the health, safety, welfare, and rights of people living in New York's nursing homes and adult care facilities. Hundreds of certified Ombudsmen work in concert with government agencies to fulfill this duty.

  • 1-800-342-9871 (if calling from within New York State)
  • 518-474-7329 (if calling from outside New York State)

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New York State Department of Health

[health.state.ny.us]

• Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program
  (EPIC)
  [www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/epic/]

  EPIC is a New York State sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who need help paying for their prescriptions. Over 360,000 seniors already belong and are saving, on average, over 80% of the cost of their medicines.

  • Helpline: 1-800-332-3742
  • Fraud and Abuse Hotline: 1-800-542-0424
  • Provider Helpline: 1-800-634-1340

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• Additional N.Y.S. DoH Hotlines may be found on the N.Y.S. DoH web site at New York State Department of Health Toll-Free Helplines (www.nyhealth.gov/nysdoh/consumer/director/doh800.htm). These hotlines include the following areas:
  • HIV/AIDS
  • AIDS Counseling & Testing
  • Cancer Information
  • Roswell Park Cancer Institute
  • Environmental Health
  • Food and Nutrition Programs
  • Health Insurance
  • Home Health Care
  • Hospital Care
  • Housing and Adult Services
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Managed Care Complaints
  • Medicaid Managed Care Information
  • Nursing Home Patient Care Complaints
  • Occupational Health
  • Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC)
  • Organ & Tissue Donation Information
  • Smokers Quitline
  • West Nile Virus

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New York State Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled and NYS Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities

[www.cqcapd.state.ny.us]

Call for information for people with disabilities: New York programs and services, including assistive technology through the TRAID Project; and on implementation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), including technical assistance and training.

• 1-800-624-4143 (Voice/TTY/Spanish)

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New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care

[www.nyspltc.org" ]

The New York State Partnership for Long-Term Care is a unique program combining long-term care insurance and Medicaid Extended Coverage. Its purpose is to help New Yorkers financially prepare for the possibility of needing nursing home care, home care or assisted living services someday. The program allows New Yorkers to protect some or all of their assets (resources), depending on the insurance plan purchased, if their long-term care needs extend beyond the period covered by their private insurance policy.

• 1-888-NYSPLTC (1-888-697-7582)

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New York State Public Service Commission

[www.dps.state.ny.us" ]

Toll Free Hotlines are listed at www.dps.state.ny.us/phonebook.html, including the following:

• Gas, electric shutoff
• Service, billing complaints regarding Gas, Electric & Phone
• Cable TV complaints
• Energy service company (ESCO) complaints (complaints about competition in the energy industry)
• HEAP grants for people aged 60+
• HEAP grants for NYC

• 518-474-7080

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New York State Insurance Department

[www.ins.state.ny.us]

Call for information about Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Long-Term Care Insurance, if you think you have been misled by insurance advertising or marketing practices, or if you have other insurance related questions.

• 1-866-NYINSHELP

Additional toll free numbers are listed at http://www.ins.state.ny.us/hpoffnos_misc.htm.

• Healthy NY
  (www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hny.htm)
  • 1-866-HEALTHY NY (1-866-432-5849)
  • Additional Healthy NY toll-free numbers: www.ins.state.ny.us/hpoffnos_misc.htm

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United States Government

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Medicare

[www.medicare.gov]

• 1-800-MEDICARE

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Social Security Administration

[www.ssa.gov]

• 1-800-772-1213
  • (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday)
  • (recorded information and services available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays)
• TTY number, 1-800-325-0778