US HHS 2026: Benefits, Offices & Eligibility
Most people searching for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services need a practical route: Medicare help, Medicaid or CHIP eligibility, Marketplace coverage, Head Start, child care assistance, LIHEAP, aging services, civil rights complaints, HIPAA complaints, HHS fraud reporting, FOIA records, grants, regional offices, or the correct federal phone number.
This plain-English guide is built for seniors, caregivers, parents, disabled adults, low-income households, providers, nonprofit workers, and families who need the right official page before calling, applying, filing, or sharing private information. It is not the official HHS website and does not decide eligibility or process benefits.
Quick answer: what U.S. HHS helps with in 2026
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, commonly searched as HHS, US HHS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS benefits, HHS offices, or HHS eligibility, is the federal department connected to health care, public health, human services, children and families, older adults, disability support, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, civil rights in health care, HIPAA privacy complaints, federal health grants, and many national health programs.
| What you need | Best official route | Prepare first | Important warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| HHS phone number | HHS Contact page | Topic, state, program name, notice letter, case number if available | The main HHS phone may route you; it may not process your benefit application. |
| Medicare help | Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE | Medicare number, claim, plan name, drug list, provider name, date of service | Medicare is federal, but plan questions may also involve your plan. |
| Medicaid or CHIP eligibility | State Medicaid agency, HealthCare.gov, Medicaid.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov | State, household size, income, citizenship/immigration details, pregnancy, disability, children’s ages | States make many final Medicaid and CHIP eligibility decisions. |
| Marketplace insurance | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace | ZIP code, income estimate, household tax filing details, current coverage, immigration documents if applicable | Marketplace subsidies depend on income, household and coverage access. |
| Head Start, child care, TANF, LIHEAP | ACF, HeadStart.gov, ChildCare.gov or state/local office | Child age, income, public assistance, homelessness/foster status, work/school schedule, energy bill | Many human services benefits are run by state, tribal or local agencies. |
| Older adult services | Eldercare Locator / Administration for Community Living | ZIP code, age, disability needs, caregiver needs, meals, transportation, home help | Local Area Agencies on Aging often determine service availability. |
| HIPAA or civil rights complaint | HHS Office for Civil Rights | Provider/agency name, dates, facts, documents, privacy issue, discrimination issue | OCR is different from Medicare complaints and OIG fraud reporting. |
| HHS fraud, waste or abuse | HHS Office of Inspector General Hotline | Program, person or organization, dates, dollar amount, documents, contact details | Use OIG for suspected fraud in HHS programs, not ordinary eligibility questions. |
HHS is the federal umbrella. Your actual application may go through Medicare.gov, HealthCare.gov, your state Medicaid agency, a local Head Start program, your state LIHEAP office, an Area Agency on Aging, a state survey agency, OCR, OIG, FOIA.gov, or another official system.
US HHS route finder: choose the right benefits, office or complaint path
Use this quick tool before calling, applying or filing. It helps separate HHS main contact, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, Head Start, child care, LIHEAP, aging services, civil rights, HIPAA, fraud, FOIA and regional office questions.
HHS 2026 task router
Select your need. The safest next step appears below.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services phone number, address and call script
HHS lists its headquarters at Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201. The HHS Toll Free Call Center is 1-877-696-6775. Use this as a routing number, not as a guarantee that the call center can decide eligibility, approve benefits, replace a card, or process a complaint.
HHS Contact Us
Use for general HHS routing, headquarters address, agency questions and department contact help.
Open HHS contact1-800-MEDICARE
Use for Medicare claims, card, plan, coverage, billing and complaint questions.
Open Medicare contactHealthCare.gov Call Center
Use for Marketplace applications, account, documents, enrollment and plan help.
Open Marketplace contactUse a short call script
Say: “I need help with [Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, Head Start, LIHEAP, child care, senior services, HIPAA complaint, civil rights complaint, OIG fraud report, FOIA, grant, or regional office]. I live in [state]. Which official office or website should I use next?”
Never give your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account, card number, Marketplace login, Medicaid case number, or identity documents to someone who called you unexpectedly. Hang up and call the official number listed on Medicare.gov, HealthCare.gov, HHS.gov, your state agency notice, or your plan card.
HHS benefits programs: Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, Head Start, child care, LIHEAP and senior services
HHS connects to many benefits and services, but applications are often handled through separate official systems. Use this guide to understand which office usually owns the next step.
| Benefit or service | Who it may help | Where to start | Eligibility usually depends on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare | People 65 or older and some younger people with disabilities or certain conditions | Medicare.gov and Social Security enrollment routes | Age, disability status, work history, enrollment timing and coverage choice |
| Medicaid | Low-income adults, children, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities | State Medicaid agency or HealthCare.gov | State, income, household size, category, disability, pregnancy and immigration/citizenship rules |
| CHIP | Children and teens who need free or low-cost health insurance | InsureKidsNow.gov or state Medicaid/CHIP agency | Child age, state rules, income, household size and other coverage |
| Marketplace coverage | People needing private health insurance, premium tax credits or cost-sharing help | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace | ZIP code, household income, tax household, immigration status and access to other coverage |
| Head Start / Early Head Start | Young children and families with low income or special qualifying situations | HeadStart.gov and local Head Start program | Income, child age, public assistance, homelessness, foster care and program slots |
| Child care assistance | Working, training or schooling families needing help paying for child care | ChildCare.gov and state child care agency | State rules, income, child age, work/school activity and provider rules |
| LIHEAP | Households needing help with heating, cooling, energy crisis or weatherization-related costs | ACF LIHEAP and state/tribal/local LIHEAP office | Income, household size, state rules, energy burden, crisis status and available funds |
| Aging and caregiver services | Older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers and families needing local support | Eldercare Locator / ACL | Age, disability, local availability, functional need, caregiver situation and local program rules |
HHS eligibility basics in 2026: income, household size, state, age, disability and program rules
Eligibility is not one single HHS rule. Some programs use the HHS Poverty Guidelines, some use Modified Adjusted Gross Income, some use state rules, some use disability or age categories, and some use local need or funding availability.
Federal poverty guidelines
Many programs reference HHS poverty guidelines, but each program decides how to apply percentages, rounding and countable income.
Family size matters
Eligibility can change when household size, tax filing, pregnancy, dependent children or shared custody changes.
State rules matter
Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, LIHEAP and child care rules can vary by state, territory, tribe or local office.
| Household size | 48 states & D.C. | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $19,950 | $18,360 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $27,050 | $24,890 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $34,150 | $31,420 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $41,250 | $37,950 |
| Each additional person | Add $5,680 | Add $7,100 | Add $6,530 |
The poverty guideline table is not a benefit approval. A program may use 100%, 130%, 150%, 200%, 250% or another threshold, and it may count income differently. Always use the official program calculator, state agency, or eligibility notice for the final answer.
Medicare help through HHS/CMS: card, claim, plan, enrollment and complaint route
Medicare is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of HHS. For most consumer questions, Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE are better than the general HHS phone number.
1-800-MEDICARE
Use for Medicare claims, cards, bills, coverage, appeals, complaints and account questions.
Contact MedicareMedicare.gov
Use for plan comparison, claims, drug coverage, provider search and Medicare account access.
Open MedicareSocial Security route
Many Medicare enrollment steps route through Social Security, especially first enrollment and Part B questions.
Open SSA MedicareMedicare will not call unexpectedly and demand your Medicare number, bank account, gift card, or payment to keep coverage. Use Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE if a call feels suspicious.
Medicaid and CHIP eligibility: federal guidance, state decision and children’s coverage help
Medicaid and CHIP are connected to HHS/CMS, but states administer many eligibility decisions. You may apply through HealthCare.gov, a state Marketplace, or your state Medicaid agency depending on where you live.
Use the state route for final Medicaid decisions
Medicaid eligibility can depend on state expansion status, income, household size, pregnancy, disability, age, citizenship/immigration status, long-term care needs, and category. HealthCare.gov can transfer applications to a state agency, but the state may make the final decision.
Use InsureKidsNow for children’s coverage
InsureKidsNow.gov helps families find state Medicaid and CHIP information for kids and teens. The official phone route is 1-877-KIDS-NOW / 1-877-543-7669.
If you already have Medicaid or CHIP, update your mailing address, phone and email with your state agency. Watch for renewal letters and answer requests quickly so coverage is not closed for missing paperwork.
HealthCare.gov Marketplace: insurance application, login, documents and premium help
The Health Insurance Marketplace is managed by CMS/HHS for states that use HealthCare.gov. Some states operate their own Marketplace. Your ZIP code determines the correct route.
1-800-318-2596
Use for Marketplace application, account, document upload, enrollment, plan selection and local help.
Open contactFind assister or broker
Use official local help to find trained enrollment help near your ZIP code.
Find local helpDo not email documents to HealthCare.gov. The official contact page says email is not used for questions or documents. Use your secure account upload route or the official instructions given in your notice.
HHS benefits for families: Head Start, child care, TANF, LIHEAP and benefit finder
HHS programs for families often run through the Administration for Children and Families, but the actual application may be local, state, tribal or program-specific.
Early learning and family support
Head Start may help children under five from low-income families, plus children in foster care, children experiencing homelessness and families receiving certain public assistance.
Apply Head StartHelp paying for care
Child care assistance rules vary by state and may depend on income, child age, work, school, training and provider requirements.
Child care helpEnergy bill assistance
LIHEAP helps eligible households with home energy bills, energy crisis, weatherization and minor energy-related home repairs.
Open LIHEAPTemporary cash assistance
TANF helps families with children experiencing low income, but eligibility and application rules are state-specific.
Open TANFSNAP food benefits are not an HHS program; they are through USDA and state SNAP agencies. USA.gov Benefit Finder can still help you discover food, housing, health, utility and family assistance routes.
HHS senior services: Eldercare Locator, Area Agencies on Aging, meals, transportation and caregiver help
For older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities, the Administration for Community Living and the Eldercare Locator are usually more useful than calling HHS headquarters.
1-800-677-1116
Call or text the Eldercare Locator to connect with trained staff and local aging resources.
Open EldercareArea Agency on Aging
Local AAAs can help with meals, caregiver support, transportation, benefits counseling and home-based services.
Find local AAASHIP help
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs provide free local Medicare counseling.
Find SHIPWhen calling for an older adult, have the ZIP code, age, disability needs, meal needs, transportation issue, caregiver situation and urgent safety concerns ready. Local programs vary by county and funding availability.
HHS complaints: HIPAA, civil rights, Medicare, nursing home, hospital and conscience complaints
Complaints must go to the correct office. HHS Office for Civil Rights handles HIPAA privacy, civil rights, conscience and certain religious freedom complaints. Medicare complaints, nursing home complaints, plan complaints, state survey complaints and provider billing disputes may use different official routes.
Health information privacy complaint
Use OCR if you believe a HIPAA covered entity or business associate violated health information privacy rights.
File HIPAA complaintDiscrimination complaint
Use OCR for certain discrimination complaints involving health care or human services providers.
File civil rightsOCR Customer Response Center
OCR lists 1-800-368-1019 and TDD 1-800-537-7697 for assistance.
Contact OCRIf someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services. Do not wait for an online HHS complaint response for urgent abuse, neglect, poisoning, breathing difficulty, medical emergency, or life-threatening situation.
Report HHS fraud, waste and abuse: OIG hotline, Medicare fraud and scam safety
The HHS Office of Inspector General handles fraud, waste and abuse reports involving HHS programs, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Use OIG for suspected fraud, not ordinary benefit eligibility questions.
1-800-HHS-TIPS
Phone: 1-800-447-8477. TTY: 1-800-377-4950. Use for suspected fraud, waste or abuse in HHS programs.
Report fraudGovernment imposter warning
HHS-OIG warns the public not to send money or share personal, medical or financial information with unknown callers claiming to be HHS officials.
Open alertsPrepare the program name, person or organization, dates, dollar amount if known, claim numbers if available, documents, and a short factual explanation. Do not send original documents unless an official investigator asks through a verified channel.
HHS FOIA records request: public records, agency records and privacy confusion
FOIA is for federal agency records. It is not the same as your Medicare account, Medicaid case file, hospital chart, doctor record, Marketplace account, Social Security record, or state benefit case record.
Use the HHS FOIA page for agency records
Make the request narrow. Include the HHS agency, program, record type, date range, subject, grant number, report title, provider name, or contract information when available.
Use the correct HHS FOIA office
HHS has FOIA contacts across multiple agencies, including CMS, FDA, NIH, CDC, HRSA, SAMHSA and other offices. A request sent to the wrong office can take longer.
A good FOIA request says: “I request records from [HHS agency/program] about [specific topic] from [date range].” A weak request says: “Send me everything about health benefits.”
HHS offices and regional offices: headquarters, agencies, regions and state/local difference
HHS has headquarters in Washington, D.C. and regional offices across the country. Regional offices are useful for intergovernmental, grantee, stakeholder and regional coordination questions, but most individual benefit applications still go through Medicare, HealthCare.gov, state Medicaid, state human services, or local offices.
| HHS region | Regional city | States and territories served |
|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Boston | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Region 2 | New York | New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |
| Region 3 | Philadelphia | Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Region 4 | Atlanta | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |
| Region 5 | Chicago | Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin |
| Region 6 | Dallas | Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Region 7 | Kansas City | Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska |
| Region 8 | Denver | Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming |
| Region 9 | San Francisco | Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Pacific jurisdictions listed by HHS |
| Region 10 | Seattle | Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington |
If you need to apply for benefits, your state or local office is often more important than the HHS regional office. If you are a grantee, provider, state agency, tribe, nonprofit or local government, regional offices may be more useful.
U.S. HHS headquarters map, address and before-you-visit warning
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services headquarters is in Washington, D.C. Do not travel there for Medicare card replacement, Medicaid application, Marketplace enrollment, LIHEAP payment, Head Start enrollment, or a local benefit issue unless an official appointment or office instruction specifically tells you to.
| Need | Better first step than visiting headquarters |
|---|---|
| Medicare card, claim or plan question | Use Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE. |
| Medicaid or CHIP application | Use your state Medicaid/CHIP agency or HealthCare.gov. |
| Marketplace login or application | Use HealthCare.gov or the Marketplace Call Center. |
| Head Start, child care, TANF, LIHEAP | Use the state/local/tribal program office or official ACF route. |
| HIPAA or civil rights complaint | Use the OCR complaint portal and OCR contact route. |
| Fraud report | Use the HHS-OIG hotline or online complaint form. |
HHS headquarters is not a local benefits office. Confirm the official page, appointment requirement, security rules, office hours and service location before making travel plans.
Official HHS, CMS, ACF, ACL, OCR, OIG and benefit links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, forms, phone numbers, account access, payment, eligibility, complaint filing and records requests. This guide is independent and does not process benefits or collect private information.
People also search for: US HHS benefits, offices and eligibility keywords
These search-style intents match common Google and Bing searches. Use the matching official route instead of typing private information into an unknown website.
US Department of Health and Human Services phone number
Use HHS Contact Us for the main 1-877-696-6775 route and headquarters address.
Phone routeHHS benefits eligibility
Use USA.gov Benefit Finder, HealthCare.gov, Medicaid.gov, ACF or state/local offices depending on the benefit.
Benefits route2026 HHS poverty guidelines
Use HHS ASPE poverty guidelines and the specific program’s rules for final eligibility.
Eligibility routeMedicare phone number
Use 1-800-MEDICARE for Medicare card, claim, plan, coverage and complaint questions.
Medicare routeMedicaid and CHIP application
Use your state Medicaid agency, HealthCare.gov or InsureKidsNow.gov.
Medicaid routeHHS HIPAA complaint
Use the HHS Office for Civil Rights complaint route for HIPAA privacy complaints.
Complaint routeHHS regional offices
Use the HHS regional office map for state and territory coverage.
Office routeSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It is not HHS.gov, Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, HealthCare.gov, ACF, ACL, OCR, OIG, USA.gov, CMS, SSA, or a state benefit agency.
Do not send Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, Medicaid case numbers, tax documents, bank details, benefit notices, immigration documents, medical records, complaint evidence, passwords, or payment cards to an independent guide page. Use only official secure government portals and verified phone numbers.
This guide explains routes and preparation. It does not guarantee eligibility, approval, payment amount, processing time, coverage, complaint outcome, or grant award. Final decisions come from the official program, state agency, local office, plan, marketplace, or federal office handling the case.
US HHS 2026 FAQs
What is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services phone number?
HHS lists its Toll Free Call Center as 1-877-696-6775. For Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227. For the HealthCare.gov Marketplace, call 1-800-318-2596.
What is the official HHS website?
The official website for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is HHS.gov. Use Medicare.gov for Medicare, HealthCare.gov for Marketplace coverage, Medicaid.gov for federal Medicaid information, and ACF or ACL sites for many human services and aging programs.
Does HHS decide if I qualify for benefits?
Sometimes HHS or an HHS agency provides federal rules and systems, but many final benefit decisions are made by state Medicaid agencies, state CHIP programs, local Head Start programs, state LIHEAP offices, state child care agencies, HealthCare.gov, Medicare plans, or other official offices.
How do I check government benefits I may qualify for?
Use USA.gov Benefit Finder for a broad screening tool. For health coverage, use HealthCare.gov, Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, InsureKidsNow.gov, or your state Medicaid agency depending on the program and your state.
What are the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines used for?
The HHS poverty guidelines are used by some federal and state programs as part of financial eligibility. Each program decides which percentage of the poverty guideline applies and what income counts, so the guideline itself is not an approval.
How do I apply for Medicaid or CHIP?
You can apply through HealthCare.gov or directly through your state Medicaid agency. For children’s coverage, InsureKidsNow.gov lets you choose your state or call 1-877-KIDS-NOW at 1-877-543-7669.
How do I find Medicare help?
Use Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. For free local Medicare counseling, use your State Health Insurance Assistance Program through SHIP.
How do I file a HIPAA or civil rights complaint with HHS?
Use the HHS Office for Civil Rights complaint route. OCR handles certain HIPAA privacy complaints, civil rights complaints, conscience complaints and related health care or human services discrimination complaints.
How do I report HHS fraud, waste or abuse?
Use the HHS Office of Inspector General hotline. The OIG hotline phone number is 1-800-HHS-TIPS, which is 1-800-447-8477. TTY is 1-800-377-4950.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official HHS website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It does not process benefits, decide eligibility, file complaints, collect payments, manage Medicare, issue Medicaid, run HealthCare.gov, operate HHS offices, or replace official government websites.