Medicare.gov is a federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary source of current, accurate information about Medicare.

Initial enrollment in Medicare at age 65 is done through the Social Security Administration.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives.

Since 1989, they have been helping people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system, and secure the quality health care they deserve. They are the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

Available only through the Medicare Rights Center, Medicare Interactive (MI) is a free and independent online reference tool thoughtfully designed to help older adults and people with disabilities navigate the complex world of health insurance.

Medicare Interactive provides easy-to-understand answers to the questions posed by Americans with Medicare, their families and caregivers, and the professionals serving them.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.

The state of Alabama is part of the U.S. insurance regulatory framework which is a highly coordinated state-based national system designed to protect policyholders and to serve the greater public interest through the effective regulation of the U.S. insurance marketplace.

The Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) is a cabinet level state agency that administers programs for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) strengthens the state’s ability to provide all Medicare-eligible individuals with information, counseling, and assistance on health insurance matters.

KEPRO is contracted by Medicare as the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organization for many states, including Alabama. They offer information and assistance to providers, and to Medicare recipients and their families, about beneficiary complaints, discharge appeals, and immediate advocacy.