What Does the HHS Do 2026: Benefits, Offices & Eligibility
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, usually called HHS, is the federal department connected to public health, health insurance programs, human services, food and drug safety, medical research, civil rights in health care, emergency preparedness, family support programs, aging services, and many benefit routes used by Americans.
This guide explains what HHS does in plain English, which HHS office or agency handles each task, which benefits may be connected to HHS, how eligibility usually works, and where to start when you need Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace coverage, Head Start, WIC, TANF, LIHEAP, elder services, community health centers, mental health support, grants, records, complaints, or HHS office contact information.
Quick answer: what does the Department of Health and Human Services do?
HHS protects health and supports human services across the United States. In everyday terms, HHS connects people to health insurance programs, helps fund health care for low-income families and seniors, supports children and families, oversees major public health agencies, protects patient privacy and civil rights, funds medical research, helps respond to public health emergencies, supports aging and disability services, and gives grants to states, tribes, local agencies, health centers, universities, and community organizations.
| What people search | What HHS actually does | Best starting route | Eligibility note |
|---|---|---|---|
| What does HHS do? | Federal health, public health, insurance, human services, research, civil rights, safety and grants oversight. | HHS Programs & Services | HHS explains programs, but eligibility is usually decided by the program or state. |
| HHS benefits | Benefits may connect to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP, child care, elder services and more. | Benefits.gov, HHS Programs, Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, HealthCare.gov | Income, age, disability, pregnancy, household size, immigration status, state, and program rules matter. |
| HHS offices | HHS headquarters, Office of the Secretary, regional offices, operating divisions, and staff divisions. | HHS Contact Us and HHS Divisions | Most benefits are not handled by walking into HHS headquarters. |
| HHS eligibility | Eligibility varies by program. HHS does not use one universal eligibility rule for all benefits. | Program application page or state agency | Use official screening tools and local/state applications. |
| HHS phone number | General HHS headquarters call center and program-specific contact routes. | 1-877-696-6775 or the program contact page | Program hotlines are usually faster than the main line. |
| HHS complaint | OCR civil rights and HIPAA complaints, OIG fraud complaints, and program-specific complaint routes. | OCR, OIG, CMS, state Medicaid, state health department, or program office | Use the exact complaint route for the issue. |
HHS is not one benefits office. It is a large federal department made of many agencies and offices. The right place depends on whether you need health insurance, child and family services, older adult services, patient privacy help, a complaint, medical research information, a grant, a public record, or a local service.
HHS route finder: choose the right benefit, office or eligibility path
Use this quick router before you call, apply, upload documents, send private information, file a complaint, or visit a government office. It helps match common searches like what does HHS do, HHS benefits, HHS eligibility, HHS office near me, Department of Health and Human Services programs, and HHS phone number.
HHS benefit and office router
Select what you need. The best official route appears below.
HHS benefits in 2026: which programs may help families, seniors, children and people with disabilities?
People often say “HHS benefits,” but benefits are not one single payment. HHS-related benefits can include health insurance, child and family programs, early childhood education, energy assistance, aging services, disability support, mental health and substance use treatment locator help, and community health center services. Some are run by HHS agencies. Some are state-administered. Some are linked from HHS but operated by other federal departments.
| Benefit or help | Who it may help | Where to start | Key eligibility factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare | People age 65+, certain younger people with disabilities, and certain people with ESRD or ALS. | Medicare.gov or Social Security enrollment route. | Age, work history, disability status, medical condition, enrollment period. |
| Medicaid | Low-income adults, children, pregnant people, people with disabilities, and some older adults. | Medicaid.gov, state Medicaid agency, or HealthCare.gov. | State, income, household size, age, disability, pregnancy, immigration and residency rules. |
| CHIP | Children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but need low-cost coverage; some states cover pregnant people. | InsureKidsNow.gov, Medicaid.gov, HealthCare.gov, or state CHIP agency. | State rules, income, child age, household size, insurance status. |
| Health Insurance Marketplace | People who need private health coverage and may qualify for savings. | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace. | Income, household size, state, employer coverage, immigration status, enrollment window. |
| Head Start / Early Head Start | Eligible children from birth to age 5 and pregnant families in local programs. | HeadStart.gov local program locator. | Child age, family income, homelessness, foster care, public assistance, disability, local availability. |
| TANF | Eligible low-income families needing temporary cash assistance or work support. | State TANF office or ACF TANF route. | State rules, income, family size, children in household, work participation, time limits. |
| LIHEAP | Eligible households needing help with heating, cooling, crisis energy costs or weatherization-related support. | State, tribe, territory or local LIHEAP agency. | Income, household size, energy burden, state season, crisis rules, funding availability. |
| WIC | Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and young children who qualify. | USDA WIC state or local agency. | Income, nutrition risk, state residency, category, age or pregnancy status. |
| Older adult and caregiver services | Older adults, caregivers, people with disabilities and families needing community support. | ACL, Eldercare Locator, local Area Agency on Aging. | Age, disability, local service availability, caregiver status, state or local program rules. |
| Community health centers | People needing primary care, dental, behavioral health, or preventive care at HRSA-supported health centers. | HRSA Find a Health Center. | Location, services available, insurance, income-based sliding fee policy where applicable. |
HHS does not use one universal eligibility rule for every benefit. A family may qualify for Medicaid but not TANF, CHIP but not Marketplace savings, Head Start but not LIHEAP, or elder services but not a cash benefit. Always apply through the correct official program or state agency.
HHS eligibility: how to check if you qualify without wasting time
Most HHS-related eligibility depends on the program. Some programs are federal, some are state-run with federal rules, some are local grantee programs, and some are referral or locator services instead of direct cash benefits. The fastest path is to gather your basic household information first.
Household income
Monthly and annual income, job income, self-employment, Social Security, unemployment, child support and other income may matter.
Family size
Eligibility tools often ask how many people are in your tax household or benefit household.
Age, disability or pregnancy
Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, WIC, Head Start, aging services and disability supports may use special categories.
State and county
Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, LIHEAP, child care and local services can vary by state, territory, tribe or county.
Use Benefits.gov for broad benefit screening
Benefits.gov can help you explore federal benefit categories and find programs that may match your situation. It is a screening starting point, not a final approval decision.
Apply through the program that actually decides eligibility
For Medicaid and CHIP, use your state agency or HealthCare.gov. For Medicare, use Medicare.gov and Social Security enrollment routes. For Head Start, contact the local Head Start program. For LIHEAP and TANF, use your state, territory, tribe or local agency.
Before applying, gather photo ID, Social Security numbers if required, proof of address, income proof, immigration documents if applicable, current insurance cards, benefit letters, child documents, disability documents, utility bills for LIHEAP, and contact information for your local office.
HHS health care programs: Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace, clinics and treatment support
HHS health care work is mostly carried out through divisions like CMS, HRSA, SAMHSA, IHS, CDC, FDA, NIH, AHRQ and other offices. For everyday users, the most common need is finding coverage, local care, medication safety information, treatment support, or a complaint route.
Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP
CMS is connected to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and Health Insurance Marketplace work. Use the correct portal for your coverage type.
Open CMSFind a health center
HRSA-supported health centers may offer primary care, dental, behavioral health and preventive services in local communities.
Find centerMental health, drugs or alcohol
Use SAMHSA’s treatment locator for mental health and substance use treatment resources.
Find treatment| Need | Use this route | Do this first |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare coverage, plan comparison, Part D, provider search | Medicare.gov | Have Medicare number, ZIP code, medications, doctors and preferred pharmacies ready. |
| Medicaid eligibility or application | State Medicaid agency, Medicaid.gov or HealthCare.gov | Gather income, household size, state, pregnancy, disability and immigration details. |
| CHIP for children | InsureKidsNow.gov or state Medicaid/CHIP agency | Gather child age, household income, state, current insurance status and parent information. |
| Marketplace health plan | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace | Know household income estimate, employer coverage offer, tax household and immigration status. |
| Low-cost primary care | HRSA Find a Health Center | Search by ZIP code and call the center about services, insurance and sliding fee policy. |
| Mental health or substance use treatment | SAMHSA FindTreatment.gov | Search by location, treatment type, payment option and urgency level. |
If there is immediate danger, overdose, suicidal crisis, severe breathing trouble, chest pain, stroke symptoms, poisoning or another emergency, call emergency services. For suicidal crisis or emotional distress in the U.S., call or text 988.
HHS human services: children, families, older adults, disability, energy help and caregivers
Human services are the “support people and families” side of HHS. These programs may help with early childhood education, child care information, family support, home energy help, older adult services, disability resources, caregiver support, and community living.
Children and families
ACF supports children, families, communities and social service programs through funding, guidance and partnerships.
Open ACFBirth to age 5
Head Start and Early Head Start help eligible children and families through local programs.
Apply Head StartEnergy assistance
LIHEAP helps eligible households with home heating and cooling costs through state, tribal, territory or local routes.
Open LIHEAPOlder adults and disability
ACL connects older adults and people with disabilities to community supports and independent living resources.
Open ACLSome benefits people associate with “HHS” are actually run by another federal department or state agency. For example, SNAP is a USDA program, but HHS may link to food assistance resources. Use the official program page before applying.
HHS offices: headquarters, regional offices, Office of the Secretary and program offices
HHS has a Washington, D.C. headquarters, Office of the Secretary staff divisions, operating divisions, regional offices, and many agency websites. For most people, the correct “HHS office” is not headquarters; it is the program office, state agency, local grantee, Marketplace, health center, or complaint portal that handles the specific issue.
| Office type | What it does | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| HHS Headquarters | Central department address and general call center. | General contact, official mail, high-level department routing. |
| Office of the Secretary | Leadership, policy, management, budget, communications, civil rights, legal, appeals and oversight offices. | Policy, FOIA, civil rights, appeals, inspector general or departmental contact routes. |
| Operating divisions | Agencies such as CMS, CDC, FDA, NIH, ACF, ACL, HRSA, IHS, SAMHSA and others. | Program-specific services, funding, health information, research, safety, coverage or human services. |
| Regional offices | HHS IEA regional offices connect with state, local, tribal and community partners. | Intergovernmental and partner coordination, not direct benefit approval for most individuals. |
| State and local agencies | Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, LIHEAP, WIC, aging services and public health are often administered locally or statewide. | Applications, eligibility interviews, documents, local appointments and case questions. |
HHS divisions: which agency handles which service?
HHS is made up of many divisions. Some focus on insurance, some on research, some on public health, some on children and families, some on aging, some on safety, and some on oversight. This table gives a plain-English map.
| HHS division | Plain-English role | Common user search |
|---|---|---|
| CMS | Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and Marketplace-related coverage work. | Medicare plan, Medicaid eligibility, CHIP, HealthCare.gov |
| CDC | Public health, disease prevention, outbreaks, health data and guidance. | CDC vaccine guidance, disease information, public health data |
| FDA | Food, drugs, medical devices, vaccines, biologics, tobacco and product safety regulation. | FDA drug recall, food safety, device warning |
| NIH | Medical research and health discoveries. | clinical trials, medical research, NIH information |
| ACF | Children, families, Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP, child care and community programs. | Head Start apply, TANF, LIHEAP, child care help |
| ACL | Older adults, caregivers, disability, independent living and community support. | elder services, caregiver help, disability support |
| HRSA | Health centers, health workforce, rural health and underserved care access. | find a health center, HRSA grants, health workforce |
| SAMHSA | Mental health and substance use treatment, prevention and recovery resources. | mental health treatment, drug alcohol treatment, 988 |
| IHS | Federal health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. | Indian Health Service facility, tribal health |
| AHRQ | Healthcare quality, safety, access and research evidence. | patient safety, healthcare quality research |
| ASPR | Medical and public health preparedness, response and recovery. | public health emergency, medical preparedness |
| OCR | Health care civil rights, HIPAA privacy and conscience/religious freedom routes. | HIPAA complaint, discrimination complaint, patient privacy |
HHS complaints: civil rights, HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid fraud and program problems
HHS complaints must go to the correct office. A HIPAA privacy complaint is not the same as Medicare fraud, a nursing home complaint, a Marketplace problem, a Medicaid eligibility appeal, or a provider billing dispute.
Civil rights or HIPAA complaint
Use HHS Office for Civil Rights when the issue involves health care discrimination, certain human services discrimination, HIPAA privacy, or security rights.
File OCR complaintFraud, waste or abuse
Use HHS Office of Inspector General for suspected fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct involving HHS programs.
Report fraudUse program-specific appeal or complaint route
Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, nursing home, facility, provider, grant, or benefit issues may have their own appeal route.
Contact HHS| Issue | Likely route | Prepare first |
|---|---|---|
| HIPAA privacy or security concern | HHS OCR complaint portal | Provider name, dates, what happened, records or notice, your contact information. |
| Health care discrimination | HHS OCR civil rights route | Who discriminated, date, location, program, protected basis and facts. |
| Medicare fraud or HHS program fraud | HHS OIG fraud hotline / online complaint | Names, dates, amounts, Medicare number only if official secure route requests it, documents. |
| Medicaid denial or eligibility issue | State Medicaid agency appeal route | Notice of action, deadlines, income proof, household details and state case number. |
| Marketplace plan or subsidy issue | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace appeal/help route | Application ID, notice, household income estimate, plan details and deadline. |
| Facility care complaint | State survey agency, CMS, state health department, ombudsman or facility complaint route | Facility name, resident/patient details, dates, facts, photos or documents if applicable. |
If someone is in immediate danger, being abused, in medical crisis, experiencing overdose, suicidal crisis, severe allergic reaction, stroke symptoms, or life-threatening illness, call emergency services or the correct crisis hotline. Do not wait for a non-emergency complaint form.
HHS grants and contracts: who should use this route?
HHS is a major grant-making federal department. Most individuals do not receive HHS grants directly as personal cash benefits. HHS grants usually go to states, territories, tribes, universities, health centers, local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community organizations that then operate programs or services.
Organizations and agencies
Use HHS Grants & Contracts if your organization is looking for federal funding opportunities or grant management guidance.
Open grantsUse benefit routes instead
If you need help paying bills, food, health insurance, child care, or energy costs, use Benefits.gov or the program application route.
Find benefitsTrack grants
HHS TAGGS helps users view HHS grant awards, recipients and related assistance data.
Open TAGGSBe careful with calls, texts, emails, or social media messages claiming you won a “free HHS grant” but must pay a fee first. Use official .gov pages and never send gift cards, wire transfers, bank logins, or identity documents to unknown contacts.
HHS records, FOIA, privacy records and public information
HHS records can mean different things: FOIA records, Privacy Act records, grant data, health statistics, Medicare appeal records, OCR complaint records, research records, or program data. A personal medical chart is usually requested from your doctor, hospital, health plan, or provider — not from general HHS headquarters.
| Record need | Use this route | Prepare first |
|---|---|---|
| HHS public records | HHS FOIA page | Office or agency, record type, date range, subject and narrow description. |
| Personal Privacy Act record | HHS Privacy Act contacts or relevant division privacy office | Identity verification, system of records, program name and your contact details. |
| Grant award data | TAGGS | Recipient name, state, program, fiscal year, award number if known. |
| Health statistics | CDC/NCHS, healthdata.gov, AHRQ or NIH data route | Topic, population, year, geography and dataset needed. |
| Medical records | Your provider, hospital, clinic, health plan or patient portal | Patient name, date of birth, service dates, provider name and authorization form. |
| Medicare record or appeal | Medicare.gov, CMS, OMHA or plan appeal route | Medicare number, notice, claim, plan name, appeal deadline and documents. |
A narrow record request is easier to process than “send me everything about benefits.” Include the HHS division, program, topic, date range, person or organization name, award number, case number or office when you know it.
HHS headquarters map, mailing address and before-you-visit warning
HHS headquarters is the Hubert H. Humphrey Building at 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. The HHS Toll Free Call Center is 1-877-696-6775. Do not travel to headquarters expecting direct enrollment for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP, WIC or local benefits. Those programs usually use online, state, local, or program-specific routes.
| Need | Better route than visiting headquarters |
|---|---|
| Medicare enrollment or plan help | Medicare.gov, Social Security enrollment route, or 1-800-MEDICARE. |
| Medicaid or CHIP eligibility | State Medicaid/CHIP agency, Medicaid.gov, InsureKidsNow.gov or HealthCare.gov. |
| Marketplace coverage | HealthCare.gov or state Marketplace. |
| Head Start | Local Head Start program locator and local program phone number. |
| LIHEAP or TANF | State, territory, tribal or local agency application route. |
| HIPAA complaint | HHS OCR complaint portal or official OCR contact route. |
Official HHS and benefit links used in this guide
Use these official pages for final details, applications, eligibility, office contacts, complaints, records, grants and program-specific instructions. This independent guide does not approve benefits, collect documents, process applications, take payments, file complaints, or replace official HHS, state, local or program websites.
People also search for: HHS Google and Bing intent guide
These search-style phrases are common around “what does the Department of Health and Human Services do.” The best answer depends on whether the user wants a benefit, office, phone number, eligibility rule, complaint, grant, or agency explanation.
What does HHS do?
HHS protects health, supports human services, administers programs, funds services, oversees agencies and protects rights.
Quick answerHHS benefits eligibility
Use the specific program route. Eligibility varies by income, age, state, disability, pregnancy and household size.
Eligibility guideDepartment of Health and Human Services programs
HHS programs include health care, insurance, social services, public health, research, laws and regulations.
Programs routeHHS office near me
Most benefits use state, local, Marketplace, provider or grantee offices, not HHS headquarters.
Office guideHHS phone number
The HHS Toll Free Call Center is 1-877-696-6775, but program hotlines are often faster.
Phone routeHHS Medicare Medicaid CHIP
CMS connects to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and Marketplace coverage routes.
Coverage routeHHS complaint
Use OCR for civil rights or HIPAA, OIG for fraud, or program-specific appeal routes.
Complaint routeHHS grants for individuals
Most HHS grants go to organizations, not personal cash recipients. Individuals should use benefit screening tools.
Grant routeSafety, privacy and independent guide notice
HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It is not the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, not HHS.gov, not Medicare.gov, not Medicaid.gov, not HealthCare.gov, not Benefits.gov, not a state agency, not a benefits office, not a grant office and not a complaint portal.
Do not send Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, Medicaid case numbers, tax documents, bank information, immigration documents, medical records, benefit letters, complaint evidence, grant documents, passwords, ID cards or payment details to an independent guide page.
Benefit amounts, eligibility, application deadlines, office contacts, phone numbers, plan rules, appeal deadlines, grants, complaint forms and program names can change. Confirm final details on official HHS, CMS, Medicare, Medicaid, HealthCare.gov, Benefits.gov, state, tribal, territory, local or program websites before acting.
What Does HHS Do FAQs
What does the Department of Health and Human Services do?
HHS protects health and supports human services in the United States. It works through agencies and offices connected to Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace coverage, public health, food and drug safety, medical research, children and families, aging services, disability support, mental health and substance use, civil rights, grants, emergency preparedness and program oversight.
Is HHS the same as Medicare or Medicaid?
No. Medicare and Medicaid are major programs connected to HHS through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, known as CMS. HHS is the larger federal department. Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, HealthCare.gov, state Medicaid agencies and CMS are the more specific routes for coverage questions.
What is the HHS phone number?
The HHS Toll Free Call Center is 1-877-696-6775. The headquarters mailing address is the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. For benefits, a program-specific hotline, state agency or online portal is usually faster than the general HHS number.
Does HHS give benefits directly to individuals?
Sometimes HHS-related programs help individuals, but the application and eligibility decision are usually handled by a specific program, state agency, local office, grantee, health plan, Marketplace, Medicare route or Medicaid office. HHS grants usually go to organizations and agencies, not direct personal cash recipients.
How do I check HHS benefits eligibility?
Use Benefits.gov for broad screening, then apply through the correct official program. Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace coverage, Head Start, TANF, LIHEAP, WIC, elder services and health center services all use different eligibility rules.
What offices are part of HHS?
HHS includes the Office of the Secretary, staff divisions such as OCR, OIG, OGC and OMHA, and operating divisions such as CMS, CDC, FDA, NIH, ACF, ACL, HRSA, IHS, SAMHSA, AHRQ, ASPR, ARPA-H and others listed on the official HHS Divisions page.
Where do I apply for Medicaid or CHIP?
Use your state Medicaid or CHIP agency, Medicaid.gov, InsureKidsNow.gov or HealthCare.gov. Medicaid and CHIP eligibility varies by state and can depend on income, household size, age, pregnancy, disability, residency and immigration rules.
Where do I apply for Head Start?
Use HeadStart.gov and contact your local Head Start or Early Head Start program. Local programs help families determine eligibility, explain required documents and tell you whether there is an opening or waiting list.
Where do I file an HHS complaint?
Use the correct complaint route. HHS OCR handles certain civil rights and HIPAA complaints. HHS OIG handles fraud, waste and abuse involving HHS programs. Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace, facility, health plan and grant issues may have separate appeal or complaint routes.
Is HealthDepartmentGuide.org the official HHS website?
No. HealthDepartmentGuide.org is an independent guide. It does not approve benefits, process applications, file complaints, issue grants, provide medical care, manage Medicare or Medicaid, or replace HHS.gov, Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, HealthCare.gov, Benefits.gov, state agencies or local offices.