Nikko,

Medicare is Federal insurance program. You're eligible for that after you go on Social Security -- either Social Security Disability or regular Social Security (after retirement). Social Security is based on monies that were paid into the system by both you and your employer.

If you did not pay into the Social Security system or if your monthly payment is very low, you're usually eligible for SSI (supplemental security income). That's paid for out of general tax revenues and it's administered by both the Federal and the State governments.

If you have SSI, you're eligible for Medicaid. That's also a Federal insurance program that's administered by the States. Medicaid covers more than Medicare. And in a lot of states, eyeglasses and dental are also covered.

Every year in January or February, the poverty level rates are published here:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/. Save this bookmark. It's updated in mid-January to mid-February every year. Will give you an idea of where you will be standing financially for the coming year.

The table here: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07poverty.shtml
gives you the yearly allowable poverty level income by number of family members.

Each state takes these numbers and uses different percentages of that income to determine what other services you're entitled to. In Massachusetts, the Medicaid program is called MassHealth and they use these calculations to determine if you're eligible and how much you'll have to pay for a monthly fee if you are determined to be eligible: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/mas..._deskguide.pdf

This is the one for Arizona: http://www.ahcccs.state.az.us/Public...quirements.pdf

It looks like Arizona might not be as "generous" as Massachusetts.

But, you want to call them and make sure that you have everything that you're eligible to. I know from experience that when the new figures come out in January/February in the Federal Register, no one volunteers to tell you about any programs that you might now be eligible for.

Usually, you cannot get Medicaid unless your income is below a certain level. Surprising, I was not eligible last year but am eligible this year. It's like a big chess game. When they take away my Medicaid coverage, they throw me into free care pool (which means free hospital care above what Medicare already pays for) but no eyeglasses or dental work.

Here's the phone numbers to call to see if you're eligible for anything else: http://www.ahcccs.state.az.us/Services/Locations.asp Oh, make sure to ask if you're eligible for help with your Medicare payments. If you're not getting that, that's close to $90 a month. Nice

Hugs. Hope this helps. Ask. It never hurts to ask; and they never volunteer.

Barb