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Insurance
 Websites presented in alphabetical order The Actors Fund of America: Health Insurance Resource Center 
 "The Center identifies alternative routes to coverage and local resources for care for performers, visual artists, stagehands, filmmakers, musicians, artisans, and other self-employed and episodic workers." Provides information on the center's services and programs such as counseling sessions, workshops, and free health clinics. Includes links to related national, state, and local resources. http://www.actorsfund.org/services/Health_Care_and_Health_Insurance/Health_Insurance_Resource_Center/index_html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health Last updated Jan 9, 2008 Can the Retiree Health Benefits Provided by Your Employer Be Cut?
This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Labor discusses the questions "How secure are my health care benefits after retirement? Under what circumstances can the company reduce or terminate my health benefits?" The sheet advises that "the key to understanding your retiree health benefits lies in the documents governing your plan," and suggests what to look for in plan documents. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/retiree_health_benefits.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Investing, Jobs & Work, Seniors Last updated Apr 28, 2004 CMS: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Consumer information on Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments). Covers news, laws and regulations, and programs. Resources include a searchable directory of contact information, forms, and a glossary. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated Jun 24, 2002 The Commonwealth Fund: Publications
Collection of publications from this private foundation "supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy." Searchable, or browse publications by topics such as health insurance, Medicare, health care quality, underserved populations, and state health policy. Includes newsletter articles, summaries of journal articles, commentary, data briefs, reports, and other publications. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/ Topics: Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Jul 18, 2007 Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI)
CAHI "is a research and advocacy association of insurance carriers active in the individual, small group, MSA [Medical Savings Accounts] and senior markets. ... Membership includes insurance companies, small businesses, providers, nonprofit associations, actuaries, insurance brokers and individuals." Site includes current industry news, publications and reports, consumer information, and a glossary of insurance terms. http://www.cahi.org/index.asp Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health Last updated Jul 5, 2004 CoverTheUninsured
Website for a project that promotes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a federal program that provides health insurance coverage for children whose parents work but cannot afford insurance on their own. Includes fact sheets, state profiles, guides to finding health insurance coverage for each state, research reports, statistics, legislative updates, personal stories, and related material. Some material available in Spanish. A project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. http://covertheuninsured.org/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Health Last updated Nov 29, 2007 The European Health Insurance Card
Official information about the European Health Insurance Card, which "makes it easier for people from the European Union’s 27 Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to access health care services during temporary visits abroad." From the European Union (EU). http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en Topics: Business, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health, International Governments, Regions of the World, Regions of the World Last updated Apr 7, 2009 European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
This group "supports and promotes evidence-based health policy-making through comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the dynamics of health care systems in Europe." The website features profiles of health care systems of European countries and other country-specific health information, health policy publications, and related material on topics such as health care funding, hospitals, and European Union law. A partnership of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Europe, and other organizations and countries. http://www.euro.who.int/observatory Topics: Health, Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Jul 16, 2007 Families USA
The Web site for a "a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for all Americans." Includes news; guides, kits, and other tools for advocates; position papers; related links; and more. Searchable. Some material available in Spanish. http://www.familiesusa.org/ Topics: Health, Health Costs & Insurance, Long-term Care Last updated Feb 22, 2004 Frequently Asked Questions About COBRA Continuation Health Coverage
A brief explanation of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) that "provides certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses, and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates." The site discusses who qualifies, qualifying events, the duration of COBRA coverage, what it costs, and more. From the United States Department of Labor. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html Topics: Business & Consumer Law, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health Last updated Mar 16, 2004 Health Insurance & Disability Benefits
An overview of public and private health insurance plans and benefits, aimed at California cancer patients. Includes information on the general types of health insurance, extending group health insurance, and obtaining insurance with a pre-existing condition. Opens directly into a PDF document. From the Cancer Resource Center, University of California, San Francisco. http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/edu/HealthCoverage.pdf Topics: Cancer, Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health Last updated Jun 8, 2009 healthinsuranceinfo.net
Consumer guides for getting and keeping health insurance "for each state and the District of Columbia -- fifty-one in all. These Consumer Guides ... will be updated periodically as changes in federal and state policy warrant." Materials include a summary of protections, group and individual health plans, financial assistance, contact information, and helpful terms. Also includes a booklet about managing medical bills and links to related sites. From the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Health Last updated Nov 29, 2007 HICUP: Health Information in Chinese Uniting Patients, Physicians and the Public
Librarians and health educators at the New York University School of Medicine have created a site with patient education and consumer health materials in Chinese. All materials and Web site links have been reviewed by bilingual health educators for accuracy, readability, and authority. The materials offer information about diseases and conditions, diagnostic procedures, safety, nutrition, and insurance. http://library.med.nyu.edu/patient/hicup/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Languages, Medical Treatments & Devices, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated May 14, 2002 Insure Kids Now
This site provides information on free or low cost health insurance for children of low-income families. Coverage includes most states and various U.S. territories. Where available, links are provided to the states' relevant program Web sites. There is also other information on children's health insurance and other health programs such as Medicare. http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Senior Health Last updated Jul 21, 2000 LIFE [Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education]
LIFE "is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions to safeguard their families’ financial futures. The main topics we address in our educational efforts are life, disability, long-term care and health insurance." Each section includes descriptions and sources of various types of insurance coverage, and the site has calculators and a glossary. From an insurance trade organization. http://www.lifehappens.org/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Finance, Health, Investing, Long-term Care Last updated May 26, 2008 The Medicaid Resource Book
This full-text guide is intended "to assist the public and policymakers in understanding the structure and operation of the Medicaid program." Describes program eligibility, benefits, financing, and administration. Also includes legislative history, resource bibliographies, and indexes to federal laws and regulations. From the Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.kff.org/medicaid/2236-index.cfm Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Health, Senior Health Last updated Dec 12, 2006 Medicare "Drug Finder" Hits Snag
November 2005 article and audio file of a radio story about issues with the implementation of Medicare's "Prescription Drug Plan Finder" website, which is "supposed to help people pick their drug coverage" under Medicare's prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D), registration for which begins November 15, 2005. Includes a link to the Medicare website and a toll-free telephone number. From National Public Radio (NPR). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5008698 Topics: Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Health, Senior Health Last updated Nov 16, 2005 Medicare: The Official U.S. Government Site for People With Medicare
The site provides databases for comparing nursing homes, Medicare plans and providers, dialysis centers, hospitals, home health agencies, and health plan options. Explains eligibility, what Medicare covers, prescription drug programs, and billing. Also provides contact information and links, a glossary, a directory of medical equipment suppliers, and information about the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Some material available in other languages. http://www.medicare.gov/ Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Federal (U.S.) Government, Finance, Health, Health & Medical Disciplines, Long-term Care, Medical Treatments & Devices, Senior Health, Seniors Last updated Aug 4, 2005 MIB (Medical Information Bureau): Consumer Protection
Consumer materials about MIB records, reports containing codes representing health conditions reported by insurance underwriters. "When a consumer applies to a MIB member company for life, health, disability, or long-term care insurance coverage, the company may check for a record at MIB." This site contains details about the reports and instructions for requesting a free copy of your record (per the Fair Credit Reporting Act). From the MIB Group, an association of life insurance companies. http://www.mib.com/html/consumer_protection.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Health Last updated Aug 13, 2007 Moore's "Sicko" Lands Blows on U.S. Health Care
This June 2007 article reviews Michael Moore's movie "Sicko," which is "an indictment of the U.S. health care system, highlighting insurance horror stories and profiling countries with universal health care." Also features an interview with Moore and links to sites with data about health care in the U.S. and abroad. From National Public Radio (NPR). http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11285514 Topics: Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Jul 16, 2007 National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and National Hospital Week (May 8-14)
"National Nurses Week coincides with Florence Nightingale's birthday, May 12. ... The celebration of National Hospital Week began in 1921 when a magazine editor suggested that more information about hospitals might alleviate public fears about them." Provides facts and statistics about nurses, hospitals, and health insurance in the United States. A special report from the U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/004491.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Long-term Care, Statistics Last updated Apr 12, 2005 NPR/Kaiser/Harvard Survey: The Public on Requiring Individuals to Have Health Insurance
"This [2008] survey conducted jointly by NPR [National Public Radio] and public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health examines how the public views different approaches for expanding health coverage, including provisions that would require individuals to purchase insurance or parents to obtain coverage for their children." Includes survey results summary and details, charts, and a link to NPR coverage of the survey. From the Kaiser Family Foundation. http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/pomr022908pkg.cfm Topics: Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Mar 3, 2008 Rand Compare
"Compare was developed to help public and private decisionmakers systematically assess and compare the effects of different policies across multiple dimensions of health care system performance, encompassing cost, quality, and access." The website's four components are facts about the current state of the health care system, framework for classifying health policy proposals, analyzing policy options, and modeling estimates. Topics include changes in health insurance coverage, payment rules, and health services delivery. From the Rand Corporation. http://www.randcompare.org/ Topics: Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Feb 4, 2009 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates
Material from "the [U.S.] Census Bureau's Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) program [which] produces estimates of health insurance coverage for states and all counties." Includes the October 2008 release of 2005 estimates of health insurance coverage by race and Hispanic origin (state level) and age, sex, and income categories (state and county levels). Site notes the "2006 SAHIE release is planned for 2009." Also include program background and related data and publications. http://www.census.gov//did/www/sahie/ Topics: Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Jul 29, 2009 State Children's Health Insurance Program
Background about the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which "is Title XXI of the Social Security Act and is jointly financed by the Federal and State governments and administered by the States." Describes the state plan and amendments, and plans for specific states. This site is best used as a reference for the original SCHIP; some sections not updated with current changes (February 2009). From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/chip.asp Topics: Health, Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Sep 28, 2009 State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Background and updates about the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was "created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, enacted Title XXI of the Social Security Act, ... [which helps] states insure low-income children who are ineligible for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance." Includes a SCHIP primer and many links to policy documents and other resources on SCHIP reauthorization. From the National Conference of State Legislatures. http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/ChildrensHealthInsuranceProgramOverview/tabid/14510/Default.aspx Topics: Health, Health Costs & Insurance Last updated Sep 28, 2009 U.S. Census Bureau: Health Insurance Data
Reports and statistics on U.S. health insurance coverage from the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS) and other sources, covering various periods from the late 1980s on. Includes a FAQ, health insurance definitions, and related links. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthins.html Topics: Consumer Research & Advocacy, Drugs, Finance, Health, Health, Statistics Last updated Sep 28, 2009 |
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