Medicare Rights Center


The Medicare Rights Center was founded in June 1989 as the Medicare Beneficiaries Defense Fund by Diane Archer. One of the first actions of the fledgling organization involved a lawsuit brought against the federal government on the grounds that the Medicare Explanation of Benefits failed to mention limits on what a doctor may charge for a service or what a beneficiary must pay. The judge in the lawsuit noted that the EOB is "gobbledygook." This same year, the National Consumer Helpline was born, run by one staff member and one volunteer.
Today, Medicare Rights is a national, 501 nonprofit that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Since 1989, the organization has been helping people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system and secure the quality health care they deserve.
Medicare Rights releases an annual helpline trends report, which outlines ongoing challenges facing people with Medicare heard through the calls to its national consumer helpline.
Medicare Rights also maintains the online Medicare reference tool, Medicare Interactive. Online courses are available on MI Pro to help professionals and caregivers gain a deeper understanding of the Medicare program.