This program provides free, unbiased, confidential help with health insurance questions and concerns regarding Medicare, long-term care insurance, and medigap policies to enable clients to become better health care consumers.

We can assist with getting clients the benefits that they are entitled to or are in need of.

“[Medicare] helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. You have choices for how you get Medicare coverage. If you choose to have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) coverage, you can buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy from a private insurance company.”

NOTE: Typically, the SSA office can meet people in person to facilitate any service provides on the website. While pandemic precautions are in place, the SSA office only has meetings by appointment for extreme emergencies: to assist someone who never had a social security number and needs it for medical or employment purposes.

The Utica SSA office services people as far west as Canastota, as far east as Little Falls, as far north as Old Forge, and as far South as Earleville.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, provides assistance for low income households so that they can afford groceries.

Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC) is a Medicaid State Plan service administered by the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Assists persons with developmental disabilities in gaining access to services and supports appropriate to the needs of the individual. MSC is provided by several agencies in each county authorized by OPWDD. MSC is provided by qualified service coordinators and uses a person centered planning process in developing, implementing and maintaining an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) with and for a person with developmental disabilities. MSC promotes choice, individualized services and supports, and consumer satisfaction.

Some of the assistance MSC's give to individuals and the their families:

Arranging for daily in-home assistance

Help Navigating through documentation

Accommodations to home

Oversight of educational service

Finding recreational opportunities

Find housing of your choice

Working in conjunction with the Herkimer County Office for the Aging, HIICAP serves as the Health Insurance information provider for the County. HIICAP is a federally-funded program from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and administered by the New York State Office for the Aging, the Herkimer County Office for the Aging, and Catholic Charities. HIICAP provides clients with free, unbiased, and confidential information relating to Medicare, low-income subsidy programs, EPIC, Medigaps, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D, billing issues, durable goods providers, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Patient Assistance Programs and other health insurance issues. Trained staff and volunteers answer questions, advocate, handle enrollments and disenrollments, and refer clients for additional services.

Trained staff can provide assistance in applying for benefits including: HEAP, Food Stamps (SNAP), and Medicaid.

WIC Help assists families with applying for WIC. The service provides general education about WIC, pre-screens for eligibility, schedules appointments and helps gather necessary documentation for WIC applications.

Provides affordable prescriptions for uninsured individuals, as well as those with private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.

A website that assists the consumer is determining which programs he/she may be eligible for in the state of New York, whittled down to the county you reside in. By inputting a few details, the site will direct you to various programs and will assist you in applying for those programs by directing you to the correct forms or giving you the phone numbers you can use to contact someone to assist you. The programs that are addressed on this site are: WIC, SNAP ( food stamps ) HEAP, Temporary Assistance, school meals, SSI program, summer meals program, Weatherization Assistance Program, special tax credits, federal earned income credit, NY State earned income credit, child tax credit, Medicaid, medicare assistance programs. EPIC, Gold Star Parent Annuity, Blind Annuity Program Consumer Protection Services, HIV Uninsured Care Program, Office of Victim Services and Veteran's Affairs. On this site you can apply for programs, recertify for programs, update your contact information, view your case details, track your application, view transaction details of your SNAP card, report a lost or damaged card and submit any verification documents requested.