The Health Care Financing Administration was a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that oversaw Medicaid and Medicare administration. It was established in 1977 and was succeeded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2001. For a total of 24 years, the Health Care Financing Administration managed the administration of Social Security Disability health care benefits.
Both the Health Care Financing Administration and its successor, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, have had oversight of programs other than Medicare and Medicaid. Among the main responsibilities of the Health Care Administration and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare are State Children’s Health Insurance Plans, health insurance plan portability (HIPAA and COBRA, for example), nursing facility requirements, and medical laboratory quality standards.
The majority of people who receive Social Security Disability benefits eventually qualify for either Medicare or Medicaid, or both. Prior to 2001, the Health Care Financing Administration was responsible for administering their health care benefits, while the Social Security Administration was responsible for enrolling those receiving Social Security Disability benefits.
In general, if you do not immediately qualify for Medicaid due to your income but do qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, you will begin receiving Medicare benefits after two years of disability benefits. In some instances (often if you have a rare and debilitating ailment), you may automatically qualify for Medicare.
The Health Care Financing Administration was based in Woodlawn, Maryland. It had ten regional offices. These offices are still operating under the auspices of the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Throughout the United States, regional offices are located. To determine which of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid covers your area, contact the Social Security Administration.
Although the name has changed, recipients of Social Security Disability benefits can expect the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to provide the same services and standards as the Health Care Financing Administration. The majority of the alterations are cosmetic in nature.