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Resources |
California Patient Guide (www.calpatientguide.org) is a guide intended to inform Californians of their rights to receive quality health care, but contains useful information for any health care consumer. Prepared by The Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.
Telephone: 310.392.0522.
Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) (www.ebri.org) is dedicated to research that aims to provide objective, unbiased information on employee benefits and does not act as an advocate or opponent of any position. Its purpose is to contribute to, to encourage, and to enhance the development of sound employee benefit programs and sound public policy through objective research and education.
Telephone: 202.659.0670.
U.S. Department of Labor (www.dol.gov) provides consumer information on health plans, COBRA (continuation of health benefits for unemployed workers), the rights of newborns and mothers, the portability of health coverage (HIPAA) and women’s health and cancer rights protection.
Telephone: 1.866.4.USA.DOL.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (www.nih.gov) is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. Its health pages provide comprehensive information on conditions and illnesses and health and wellness.
Telephone: 301-496-4000.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov) is the principal agency in the U.S. government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans. Contains information on chronic diseases, health and wellness, and child and adolescent health.
Telephone: 800.311.3435.
WebMD (www.webmd.com) provides health information, tools for managing your health, and support to those who seek information. The site features message boards on a variety of health topics.
MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov/) will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news.
Healthfinder® (http://www.healthfinder.gov/) is an award-winning Federal Web site for consumers, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with other Federal agencies. Since 1997, healthfinder® has been recognized as a key resource for finding the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Internet. Healthfinder® links to carefully selected information and Web sites from over 1,500 health-related organizations.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) (www.naic.org/) is the organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the four U.S. territories. NAIC’s Web site has resources for consumers, including how to spot a fraudulent agent or insurer.
Telephone: 816.842.3600.
HealthInsuranceInfo (www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/) is produced by The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. The site features “A Consumer Guide for Getting and Keeping Health Insurance” for each state and the District of Columbia. The guides summarize your protections.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.rwjf.org) is the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans. The site features publications and timely research about health insurance coverage.
Telephone: 888.631.9989.
The Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (AHRQ) (www.ahrq.gov) supports research designed to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. The research sponsored, conducted, and disseminated by the AHRQ provides information that helps people make better decisions about health care.
The AHRQ is a sister organization to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Telephone: 301.427.1364.
Consumers Union (www.consumersunion.org), publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving only consumers. Consumers Union features articles on access to health insurance and a guide to making a health care appeal.
Telephone: 914.378.2000.
FamilyDoctor (www.familydoctor.org), sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, features health information and a variety of tools, including a body mass index calculator and a search-by-symptom tool.
Hospital Compare (www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov) is a tool that provides you with information on how well the hospitals in your area care for all their adult patients with certain medical conditions. This information can help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. Hospital Compare was created through the efforts of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and organizations that represent hospitals, doctors, employers, accrediting organizations, other federal agencies and the public.
Telephone: 877.696.6775.
Covering Kids and Families (www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org) works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled.
Telephone: 803.779.2607.
The Commonwealth Fund (www.cmwf.org) promotes a health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society's most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, minority Americans, young children, and elderly adults. The Web site has many articles about health care coverage and access.
Telephone: 212.606.3800.
The Leapfrog Group (www.leapfroggroup.org) is an initiative driven by organizations that buy health care who are working to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality and affordability of healthcare for Americans. It is a voluntary program aimed at mobilizing employer purchasing power to alert America’s health industry that big leaps in health care safety, quality, and customer value will be recognized and rewarded.
Telephone: 202.292.6713.
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) (www.ahip.org) is the voice of America's health insurers. AHIP is the national association that represents nearly 1,300 member companies providing health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans.
Telephone: 202.778.3200.
Insurance Information Institute (III) (www.iii.org) has a mission to improve the public’s understanding of insurance ─ what it does and how it works. Each year, the III works on more than 3,700 news stories, handles more than 6,000 requests for information, and answers nearly 50,000 questions from consumers on a wide variety of insurance topics, including health insurance.
Telephone: 212.346.5500.
Patient Advocate Foundation (www.patientadvocate.org) is a national non-profit organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers, doctors, and attorneys. Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment, and preservation of their financial stability.
Telephone: 800.532.5274.
HSA Insider (www.hsainsider.com) is the leading online destination for information on Health Savings Accounts. Leveraging the Internet to provide better choice and transparency, HAS Insider informs and enables better decisions about the purchase and consumption of healthcare.
Telephone: 202.271.3959
Consumers for Health Care Choices (www.chcchoices.org) is a non-for-profit grassroots organization that represents the views of the health care consumer to policy makers and health industry leaders.
Telephone: 301.606.7364
Council for Affordable Health Insurance (www.cahi.org) is a research and advocacy organization whose membership includes insurance companies, small businesses, providers, nonprofit associations, actuaries, insurance brokers and individuals. Since 1992, CAHI has been an active advocate for market-oriented solutions to the problems of America’s health care system.
Telephone: 703.836.6200
Coalition for Affordable Health Coverage (www.cahc.net) is a broad-based coalition that came together because of a strong common desire to address the issue of the uninsured by increasing access to private sector health insurance. Members include physician groups, business groups, insurance carriers, insurance brokers, consumer groups and others who believe that affordability of coverage is the most basic component of access to health care.
Telephone: 202.626.8548
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