Got health questions? We got the answers.
Help for older adults and the families who care for them. Text us your question. We text back with names, phone numbers, and next steps.
Want answers tailored to you from the start? Fill out a short form
By texting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to stop.
Fill out this form
Name, DOB, state, what you need. No Medicare card required.
Send your first text
Your messaging app opens with a text already written. Tap send.
Get a real answer
Names, phone numbers, and next steps. Usually within minutes.
One minute here saves a few rounds of questions later. Your first reply will already know who you're helping and what they need.
Pinnie Direct
Text message
I need a cardiologist near Williamsburg who takes Medicare.
Here are 3 cardiologists within 5 miles who accept Medicare and are taking new patients: 1. Dr. Anna Whitfield, (757) 555-0142 2. Dr. Marcus Ellery, (757) 555-0167 3. Dr. Priya Nandakumar, (757) 555-0188 Want the addresses too?
Yes please. Do I need a referral?
With Original Medicare, in most cases no referral is needed for a cardiologist. Addresses coming next. I'll check in tomorrow to see if you got an appointment.
Example conversation. Names and numbers are illustrative.
We hear from people every day about the same problems. If any of these sound familiar, text us.
Need a cardiologist, eye doctor, or psychiatrist who accepts Medicare and is taking new patients? Text us your location and we text back names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Text us your coverage question and get a plain-language answer from CMS data. Not a link to a 400-page PDF.
Home aides, meals, caregiver support, and Medicaid waiver programs. We find your local resources and text you the numbers.
EOB explanations, billing error identification, dispute scripts, and hospital financial assistance programs. Text us and we walk you through it.
Ride programs, county paratransit, volunteer drivers. We find the right phone number for your area.
If you have Original Medicare Parts A and B, you may qualify for a covered care advocate. One 15-minute call to get started.
How it works
Fill out a short form (name, date of birth, state, what you need), or skip it and text us. No insurance card, no Medicare number, no password.
Your messaging app opens with our number and a short greeting already typed. Tap send.
Usually within minutes. A doctor's name and phone number. A yes-or-no on coverage. The ride program for your county. Short, plain, specific.
Many of the people who text us are sons, daughters, spouses, and neighbors. You know what your parent needs. We know which county runs the ride program, which agencies take Medicaid, and what the coverage rule actually says.
By texting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to stop.
What to expect
No fees, no subscriptions. We do not sell insurance or take payment from anyone we recommend.
Works through the text messaging app already on your phone. Nothing to download or remember.
You get a doctor's name, not a directory link. A program's phone number, not a pamphlet. Real answers.
The next day we ask how it went. If the first option did not work, we have more ready.
Questions and answers
Pinnie Direct is a text helpline. Text us a question about your coverage, finding a doctor, getting a ride, understanding a bill, or finding help at home. We do the research and text you back with names, numbers, and next steps.
Pinnie Direct is free for all to use. There is no fee to sign up or text with us, and we do not sell insurance or take payment from providers we recommend. Standard message and data rates from your phone carrier may apply.
No. Pinnie Direct works through the text messaging app already on your phone. On an iPhone that is iMessage. On other phones it is regular text messages. No app, no login, no password.
Insurance coverage, finding a doctor who takes Medicare, rides to medical appointments, home care and caregiver support, understanding a medical bill, prescription help, and general Medicare questions. If we cannot help with something, we will tell you and point you to who can.
Most questions get a specific answer within minutes. Some take longer when we need to verify details with an office or program. We will tell you when that is the case and check back the next day to see how it went.
Yes. We ask for your name, date of birth, state, and what you need help with. We only ask for your Medicare number when a specific coverage question requires it. We never ask for your Social Security number. Your information is not shared with advertisers.
We help with both. Finding doctors, rides, home care, and equipment does not depend on which card you carry. For coverage questions specific to your plan, we will look up the rule that applies to you.
Yes. When a question needs a phone call and a human, we schedule one with a health navigator at a specific time. If you qualify for a care advocacy program covered by Medicare, we will explain it and can set up the first call.
We help people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Local resources like ride programs and home care agencies are looked up for your specific area.
Reply STOP at any time and we stop texting you. No questions asked.
One minute here saves a few rounds of questions later. Your first reply will already know who you're helping and what they need.
Prefer to skip the form? Text us at (917) 592-9333
By texting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to stop.
Signing up takes about a minute. Your first answer usually takes a few more.
By texting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to stop.
