Minnesota Board on Aging (MBA)
Senior LinkAge Line
540 Cedar St, St. Paul, MN, 55155
(800) 333-2433
mba.dhs@state.mn.us
https://mn.gov/senior-linkage-line
Service Details
Description
The Senior LinkAge Line (SLL) is the State of Minnesota's source for free objective information and assistance for older Minnesotans and their families.
The Senior LinkAge Line helps Minnesotans with many aging-related issues, including but not limited to:
* Finding help and services in the community
* Helping people return home from a nursing facility or hospital stay
* Offering health insurance counseling - including Medicare, long-term care planning, and prescription drug costs
* Providing forms assistance, including help applying for Medical Assistance and extra help with Medicare options
* Helping people of all ages apply for prescription drug payment assistance
* Processing pre-admission screenings for nursing facility admissions
The Senior LinkAge Line is Minnesota's designated Long-Term Care Options Counseling service, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and the aging side of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC).
The Senior LinkAge Line is a service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota and serves all 87 counties in Minnesota. The Senior LinkAge Line helps older Minnesotans and caregivers find answers and connect to the services and support they need. In addition, this service uses a language line service to help callers who speak languages other than English.
The Senior LinkAge Line also has a variety of volunteer roles, ranging from providing health insurance counseling, to administrative office tasks, to presentations to the public.
Features
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Area Served by County
- Aitkin County
- Anoka County
- Becker County
- Beltrami County
- Benton County
- Big Stone County
- Blue Earth County
- Brown County
- Carlton County
- Carver County
- Cass County
- Chippewa County
- Chisago County
- Clay County
- Clearwater County
- Cook County
- Cottonwood County
- Crow Wing County
- Dakota County
- Dodge County
- Douglas County
- Faribault County
- Fillmore County
- Freeborn County
- Goodhue County
- Grant County
- Hennepin County
- Houston County
- Hubbard County
- Isanti County
- Itasca County
- Jackson County
- Kanabec County
- Kandiyohi County
- Kittson County
- Koochiching County
- Lac qui Parle County
- Lake County
- Lake of the Woods County
- Le Sueur County
- Lincoln County
- Lyon County
- Mahnomen County
- Marshall County
- Martin County
- McLeod County
- Meeker County
- Mille Lacs County
- Morrison County
- Mower County
- Murray County
- Nicollet County
- Nobles County
- Norman County
- Olmsted County
- Otter Tail County
- Pennington County
- Pine County
- Pipestone County
- Polk County
- Pope County
- Ramsey County
- Red Lake County
- Redwood County
- Renville County
- Rice County
- Rock County
- Roseau County
- Scott County
- Sherburne County
- Sibley County
- St. Louis County
- Statewide
- Stearns County
- Steele County
- Stevens County
- Swift County
- Todd County
- Traverse County
- Wabasha County
- Wadena County
- Waseca County
- Washington County
- Watonwan County
- Wilkin County
- Winona County
- Wright County
- Yellow Medicine County
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Client Conveniences
- Assistance with community resources
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Specialization
- Older adults
Business Hours
8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Area Served
Statewide
Websites
Phone Numbers
| Type | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Senior LinkAge Line® | (800) 333-2433 | |
| Speech-to-Speech Relay | (877) 627-3848 | |
| TTY/TDD | (800) 627-3529 |
Last Update
10/4/2024
Other Locations
This provider does not offer this service at other locations.
Other Services or resources
Taxonomy Terms Used: Clicking a taxonomy term from the list below launches a new search.
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BH-3900.3100Housing Search Assistance Definition
Programs that assign a staff member to assist people who are looking for housing to survey the available residences and to choose and obtain the most suitable option.
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FP-0500.3300Individual Advocacy Definition
Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.
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FT-1000Benefits and Services Assistance Definition
Programs that provide assistance for people who are having difficulty understanding, accessing, and/or are unaware of grants, payments, benefits or other services for which they may be eligible. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits and services, the benefits or services provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete application forms; negotiate on their behalf with program administration staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are benefits/service counseling organizations that offer a range of advocacy services and legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.
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FT-1020Certificates/Forms Assistance Definition
Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.
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FT-3900.3300Insurance Claims Assistance Definition
Programs that provide a variety of supportive services for individuals who need assistance in completing, filing and/or appealing decisions with regard to insurance claims and/or for organizations that need assistance in benefits administration.
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FT-3900.3300-300Health Insurance Claims Assistance for Beneficiaries Definition
Programs that provide a variety of supportive services for individuals who need assistance in completing, filing and/or appealing decisions with regard to their medical insurance claims.
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JR-8200.3000-200Fall Prevention Programs Definition
Programs that are designed to increase public awareness of the risk factors associated with trips, slips and falls by older adults and others in and around their homes and the measures that can be taken prevent their occurrence. Delivery formats may include fact sheets, safety check lists or other informational materials; individual or group educational sessions which may include strength and balance exercises; and general media campaigns. The programs may address illnesses and other physical conditions that affect mobility and balance; "high-risk" medications or medication combinations that may cause drowsiness; lack or improper use of needed mobility aids; proper versus improper footwear; environmental safety hazards such as unsafe or unlighted stairways, uneven or slippery walking surfaces, obstacles such as throw rugs and exposed cords or wires, unsteady furniture or lack of grab bars and handrails; and other similar factors.
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LH-0350Aging and Disability Resource Centers Definition
Programs that create a single, coordinated system of information and access for older adults and people with disabilities who are seeking long term support to minimize confusion, enhance individual choice, and support informed decision-making. ADRC centers serve as a single point of entry to public long term support programs and services. They offer information and counseling regarding available long term support options; assist individuals in determining their eligibility for public long term support programs and benefits including level of care determinations for Medicaid nursing facility and home and community-based service waiver programs; provide short-term case management to stabilize long term supports for individuals and their families in times of immediate need; help people plan for their future long term support needs; and provide information about and referral to other programs and benefits (such as health promotion and disease prevention, transportation services, housing and income support programs) that help people remain in the community.
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LH-3500Health Insurance Information/Counseling Definition
Programs that offer information and guidance for people who need assistance in selecting appropriate health insurance coverage and which may also answer questions about health insurance benefits and help people complete insurance forms.
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LH-3500.4500Long Term Care Insurance Information/Counseling Definition
Programs that offer information and guidance for people who need assistance in determining whether they need long term care insurance, comparing and evaluating benefit plans and selecting a policy that will meet their needs or choosing an alternative to long term care insurance that is more beneficial given their situation.
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LH-3500.5000Medicare Information/Counseling Definition
Programs that offer information and guidance for older adults and people with disabilities regarding their health insurance options with the objective of empowering them to make informed choices. Included is information about benefits covered (and not covered); the payment process; the rights of beneficiaries; the process for eligibility determinations, coverage denials and appeals; consumer safeguards; and options for filling the gap in Medicare coverage (Medigap supplement insurance). Also available is information relating to an individual's eligibility for benefits and assistance with evaluating their options and enrolling in a Medicare plan (A, B, C, and/or D) that will best meet their needs. These programs also address coordination of benefits when beneficiaries have other types of health insurance in addition to Medicare (e.g. Medicaid, employer coverage or retiree insurance) and provide counseling and assistance regarding the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit (which help pay for Part D premiums and reduce the cost of prescriptions at the pharmacy) and the Medicare Savings Programs which help pay for Medicare out-of-pocket costs. They may also provide information about Medicaid and the linkages between the two programs, referrals to appropriate state and local agencies involved in the Medicaid program, information about other Medicare-related entities (such as peer review organizations, Medicare-approved prescription drug plans, Medicare administrative contractors), and assistance in completing related Medicare insurance forms.
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LH-4600Long Term Care Options Counseling Definition
Programs that offer an interactive decision support process that helps individuals in need of long term care and their families understand their strengths, needs, preferences and unique circumstances and weigh the pros and cons of available alternatives. The consultation includes a discussion of the factors to consider when making long term care decisions, information about the range of long term care support options available in their community (such as personal care, transportation and medication management) and resources that can help them pay for services. The program also provides decision support to help identify next steps in the process and help in connecting with services, if needed. The service is generally available to older adults and adults of any age who have a disability; can be of benefit to people using their own resources to pay for services; and may be provided over the telephone or in person (at home, at an agency, in a hospital, at a rehabilitation or nursing facility or in another setting of the person's choosing). The objective of the program is to allow people to live as independently as possible in the setting of their choice.
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LH-6700Prescription Medication Services Definition
Programs that provide access to low-cost or difficult to obtain prescription drugs or supportive services that help patients take their medication as prescribed by their physician.
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LH-6700.6300Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs Definition
Pharmaceutical companies or pharmacies that make brand name or generic prescription drugs available to patients who are uninsured or underinsured or, for other reasons, cannot afford to pay the market price. Also included are organizations that help qualifying patients complete and file paperwork for submission to drug manufacturers to request such medication or which maintain lists of these types of programs for referral purposes.
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NL-5000.5000-700Medicare Savings Programs Definition
Programs that cover all or a portion of Medicare costs for low income Medicare beneficiaries with limited resources/assets. Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are administered by Medicaid medical assistance offices, pay all or a portion of Medicare premiums and may pay Medicare deductibles and co-insurance. Included are the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program that pays Medicare premiums, deductibles and co-payments for people with combined incomes that do not exceed 100 percent of the federal poverty level; the Specified Low-Income Beneficiary (SLMB) program that pays Medicare Part B premiums for people with combined incomes between 100 and 120 percent of the federal poverty level; the Qualifying Individuals (QI) program that pays Medicare Part B premiums for people with combined incomes 120 and 135 percent of the federal poverty level; and the Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) program that helps pay the Part A premium for individuals under age 65 who have a disability and are working, have lost their premium-free Part A when they returned to work, are not receiving medical assistance from their state and meet income and resource limits required by their state. The QI program is a limited program (block grant to states), and is available on a first come, first serve basis. Asset/resource limits for these programs are adjusted each year and may vary by state.
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NL-5000.6500Nursing Home Transition Financing Programs Definition
Programs that are designed to assist institutionalized residents, or those about to be discharged from a hospital to a nursing home, to return to the community to live in a less restrictive setting. Some transition programs are funded using Medicaid and therefore require that eligible participants be Medicaid recipients. Other programs have been created using state or local funds. The programs typically provide case management and, unless other funding sources are available, provide funding for and link program participants to existing home and community based services, home modification programs, assistive technology equipment, assisted living facilities or other supported housing options and/or other needed services.
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NS-8000.5000-520Medicare Appeals/Complaints Definition
Entities that are responsible for hearing appeals and resolving grievances that have been filed by people who have applied for or are receiving benefits through the Medicare program (including the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit and the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D Benefit) and believe that an adverse action has been wrongly taken, including coverage denials, discrimination, violation of rights and/or failure to take an appropriate action.
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NS-8000.5000-660Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment Definition
Private Prescription Drug Plans that are approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries and accept applications for enrollment. Beneficiaries may also select a plan using the online enrollment application available on the CMS website. The application provides a tool for comparing different plans which vary in costs and specific drugs covered.
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PH-1000.8500Transitional Case/Care Management Definition
Programs that develop, implement, assess and follow up on plans for the evaluation, treatment and/or care of people who are experiencing a specific, time-limited problem such as a transition from hospitalization to independent living and who need assistance to obtain and coordinate the support services that will facilitate the change.
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PL-7400.1500Computer Literacy Training Programs Definition
Programs that provide instruction for individuals of all ages who want to learn about or perfect their skills in using computers, computer-related hardware and specific home and business applications including word processing, spreadsheet development, presentation development, database management, electronic publishing and image processing. Included are both introductory classes for people unfamiliar with computers and the Internet and more advanced courses, as well as programs that provide instruction in the use of related technology such as smartphones and social media. Instruction may focus on publishing tools such as blogs, video logs (vlogs), photo sharing, podcasting or wikis.
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TD-1100.6500-050Area Agencies on Aging Definition
Substate organizations authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to develop a comprehensive, coordinated system of community-based services for older adults within their planning and service area. State Units on Aging designate, provide federal and state funding, and monitor operations of AAAs. Eight states and the District of Columbia do not have AAAs and, therefore, serve the roles of both state and area agency. AAA's responsibilities include planning; development of local funding resources; and contracting with local service provider organizations to provide authorized services which include information and referral/assistance, outreach, case/care management, escort, transportation, homemaker/chore, personal care, home repair and rehabilitation, home delivered meals, congregate meals, adult day care, elder abuse prevention, nursing home ombudsman, legal assistance, employment and training, health promotion and disease prevention and senior centers as well as services that support caregivers including respite care, counseling and education programs. AAAs may provide a number of other services in situations where local service provider options are limited.
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TJ-3000.8000Specialized Information and Referral Definition
Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.
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TJ-6500.1700Directory/Resource List Publication Definition
Programs that publish and distribute directories of agencies that provide human services for residents of the community and/or resource lists. Included are programs that produce directories/lists that focus on a specific geographical area, service category or target group as well as those that produce a comprehensive directory of all community resources.
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YB-8000Older Adults Definition
Individuals who are age 50, 55, 60, 62 or 65 or older depending on the minimum age for qualifying as an older adult which varies by program.
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YF-6000.6000Nursing Facility Residents Definition
Individuals who have recently been released from the hospital, are recovering from an illness or injury, have chronic illnesses or disabilities, or are frail elderly and require constant medical support, and who are residing in an intermediate care facility, a skilled nursing facility, a subacute care nursing facility or a special care inpatient unit.
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YZ-8560Transportation Issues Definition
Programs that provide information and/or services that deal with the topic of transportation.