Free help lines in Louisiana

Medicaid and help paying Medicare costs

Louisiana Medicaid and Medicare Savings Program

Louisiana Department of Health

• Phone 1-888-342-6207 Medicaid Customer Service
• TTY 1-800-220-5404
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Website ldh.la.gov/medicaid
• Online sspweb.lameds.ldh.la.gov/selfservice

Checked 2026-10-18 on ldh.la.gov

Food help (SNAP)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Louisiana Department of Health

• Phone 1-888-524-3578 1-888-LAHELP-U; general information and applying by phone
• Website ldh.la.gov/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program/how-to-apply

Checked 2026-10-18 on ldh.la.gov

Free Medicare counseling

Louisiana Senior Health Information Program (LaSHIP)

Louisiana Department of Insurance

• Phone 1-800-259-5300 Also 225-342-5301
• Website ldi.la.gov/consumers/senior-health-shiip

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.ldi.la.gov

Aging services and local help

Aging and Disability Resource Centers

Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs

• Phone 225-342-7100 GOEA main office; can direct you to your local Council on Aging or ADRC
• Website goea.louisiana.gov/agency-directory/aging-and-disability-resource-centers

Checked 2026-10-18 on goea.louisiana.gov

Help with energy bills

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Louisiana Housing Corporation

• Website lhc.la.gov/energy-assistance

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.lhc.la.gov

Report abuse, neglect or exploitation

Elderly Protective Services

Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs

• Phone 1-844-945-2377 1-844-94LAEPS, 24/7 reporting; Toll-free EPS line 833-577-6532 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.); Spanish 800-737-1813; adults 18-59: Adult Protective Services 800-898-4910
• TTY 711
• Hours 24/7
• Website goea.louisiana.gov/services/elderly-protective-services
• Online la.accessgov.com/goea/Forms/Page/goea/contact

Checked 2026-10-18 on goea.louisiana.gov

Nursing home and assisted living complaints

Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs

• Phone 1-866-632-0922 Also 225-342-9723
• Website goea.louisiana.gov/services/louisiana-ombudsman-program

Checked 2026-10-18 on goea.louisiana.gov

Report Medicare fraud and billing errors

Louisiana Senior Medicare Patrol

AdviseWell, Inc.

• Phone 1-877-272-8720
• Website stopmedicarefraud.org
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on smpresource.org

Insurance questions and complaints

Consumer Hotline

Louisiana Department of Insurance

• Phone 1-800-259-5300 Also 225-342-5900
• Website ldi.la.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on www.ldi.la.gov

Scams and consumer complaints

Consumer Protection Section

Louisiana Office of the Attorney General

• Phone 1-800-351-4889 Also 225-326-6400
• Hours Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 05:00PM (office hours)
• Website ag.louisiana.gov/ConsumerProtection

Checked 2026-10-18 on ag.louisiana.gov

Social Security national line

Social Security Administration

Call about retirement, disability, survivor or SSI benefits, Social Security cards, Medicare enrollment and replacement Medicare cards.

• Phone 1-800-772-1213
• TTY 1-800-325-0778
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; automated phone services 24 hours a day
• Languages Spanish and other-language pages at ssa.gov/es and ssa.gov/multilanguage
• Website ssa.gov
• Online Sign in to or create a my Social Security account (benefit letters, SSA-1099, direct deposit, address change, Statement)

Waits are usually shorter in the morning and later in the week and month. The automated line, open 24 hours, can send a benefit letter, a replacement SSA-1099 or Medicare card, and change your address or phone. Find a local office at ssa.gov/locator.

Checked on www.ssa.gov

1-800-MEDICARE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Call about Medicare coverage, claims, bills, plan choices and enrollment, drug plans, and to report suspected Medicare fraud or file complaints.

• Phone 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)
• TTY 1-877-486-2048
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except some federal holidays); live chat same hours
• Languages Ask for an interpreter (medicare.gov/about-us/other-languages)
• Website medicare.gov
• Online Live chat with Medicare

This is also how to reach the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: if your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE has not solved a problem, ask the representative to send your complaint to the Ombudsman. Drug and Medicare Advantage plan complaints can also be filed online at medicare.gov/my/medicare-complaint.

Checked on www.medicare.gov

Medicare quality help line (QIO)

Acentra Health

Appeal if you think a hospital, nursing home or other Medicare provider is ending your care too soon, or complain about the quality of care.

• Phone 1-888-315-0636
• TTY 711
• Hours Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local time)
• Website acentraqio.com

Checked on acentraqio.com

Eldercare Locator

U.S. Administration for Community Living (run by USAging)

Find local help for older adults and caregivers: Area Agency on Aging, meals, transportation, in-home care, caregiver support, legal help and more.

• Phone 1-800-677-1116
• TTY 711
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern
• Languages Spanish-speaking specialist by phone; interpretation in 150 languages during business hours
• Website eldercare.acl.gov
• Email [email protected]

TTY users: call 711 and ask the relay operator to connect you to 1-800-677-1116.

Checked on eldercare.acl.gov

National Elder Fraud Hotline

U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime

For people 60+ (or family) who lost money or were targeted by fraud; case managers help you report it and connect to resources.

• Phone 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11)
• Hours Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
• Website justice.gov/elderjustice/find-help-or-report-abuse
• Online Elder Justice locator for state and local resources

Checked on www.justice.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (funded by SAMHSA)

Call, text or chat any time if you or someone you care about is in emotional distress, a mental health or substance use crisis, or thinking about suicide.

• Phone 988
• Text 988
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Languages Spanish: press 2 when calling; Spanish text and chat available; interpretation services offered
• Website 988lifeline.org
• Online Chat with a counselor online

Phone menu: press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, press 2 for Spanish. Free and confidential. In immediate danger, call 911.

Checked on 988lifeline.org