Explore health care options
Help seniors decide what is really needed (for example: a retirement plan, a Medigap plan, a Medicare HMO) Help seniors understand long-term care policies and the New York Partnership for Long-term care.
Determine if you qualify for special programs that pay for Medicare deductibles, co-payments, and Part B premiums. Determine if you qualify for EPIC (Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage), the New York State program to help pay for prescription drugs Help seniors appeal an insurance denial for medical claims.

Contracts with private health insurance companies to administer health care to eligible Medicaid recipients.

Services Provided: The Buffalo Regional Resource and Development Center (RRDC) is the single point of entry to the Department of HealthÆs Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program in Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Orleans and Wyoming Counties. The RRDC assesses and links potential participants to providers of TBI Waiver Services. All these providers have contracts with the State of New York. To become a provider, an agency or individual would need to contact the RRDC. The waivered program provides service coordination, independent living skills training, community integrated counseling, structured day programs, home and community support staff, environmental modifications, assistive technology and an intensive behavioral program.
Languages: Primarily English, some Spanish

Information, Advocacy, Assistance with Health Insurance

The Allegany County Office for the Aging offers insurance counseling to individuals with Medicare, private insurances, Medicaid and other insurance plans. One on one counseling appointments are available at the office M-F from 8am-4pm. A Medicare Basics class is offered the second Thursday of every month at the Office for the Aging in Belmont NY.

The FE-ABD program is a New York State-sponsored public health insurance application assistance program for people who are Aged, Blind, or Disabled. We educate and assist New Yorkers with enrolling in and using public health insurance programs such as:

Medicaid

Medicaid Spend-Down

Medicaid Buy-In Program for working people with disabilities

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Medicaid Service Coordinators (MSC’s) assist individuals with developmental disabilities in obtaining the services and supports necessary for them to lead successful, independent lives in the community. MSC’s develop, implement and maintain Individualized Service Plans (ISP’s) which reflect the informed choices of the individual by outlining the personalized goals he/she wants and needs to achieve.

The Open Door Transition Center helps people in nursing homes and Intermediate Care Facilities who want to return to the community. Transition Specialists provide residents with information about home and community based services needed to return to the community. Working with the discharge planner, they assist in finding services in the community, including locating housing and provide community preparedness education to make sure that individuals have the information/skills they will need when they return to the community. Open Doors also offers peer support through the Peer Outreach and Referral program.

The program works closely with the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) and the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Medicaid Waivers and Medicaid Managed Long Term Care Plans to provide services that will support people in the community.

Helps families in Chautauqua County who have children with long-term illnesses. Help includes assistance with travel-lodging for medical appointments. Child must be under the age of 18. Does not cover mental illness only physical illness. Will need to complete an application for assistance and include doctor;s diagnosis of the illness.

The Health Home program program provides coordinated care and support for people with complex medical or mental health issues on Medicaid. Care Coordinators work with the individual on setting and meeting goals in all aspects of their life: attending medical appointments, doing recommended follow-up, housing, employment goals etc. The plans are individualized to meet the person’s unique needs.