The Health Care Financing Administration was an organization within the US Department of Health and Human Services which provided administration for both Medicaid and Medicare. It was founded in 1977 and was replaced in 2001 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. All told, the Health Care Financing Administration oversaw Social Security Disability health care benefits for 24 years.
Both the Health Care Financing Administration and its successor, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, have overseen more than just Medicare and Medicaid. Among the larger areas of responsibility held by the Health Care Administration and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare are the State Children’s Health Insurance Plans, portability plans for health insurance plans (HIPAA and COBRA, for instance), nursing home standards, and medical lab quality standards.
Most Social Security Disability benefit recipients eventually qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, or both. Prior to 2001, their health care benefits were administered by the Health Care Financing Administration, though the Social Security Administration was responsible for the enrollment of those receiving Social Security Disability benefits.
Generally speaking, if you don’t qualify for Medicaid immediately (based upon your income), but you do qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, you will begin receiving Medicare benefits after you have received disability benefits for two years. In some cases (usually due to having rare and debilitating diseases), you may qualify for Medicare immediately.
The Health Care Financing Administration had 10 regional offices, and was headquartered in Woodlawn, Maryland. These offices continue to operate under the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The regional offices are placed throughout the United States. To contact your regional office, contact the Social Security Administration regarding which of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid serves your area.
Although the name has changed, Social Security Disability benefits recipients can expect the same services and standards from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid as they had received from the Health Care Financing Administration. The changes, for the most part, have been cosmetic.
