Health & Medical (Texas)

Workers Compensation

Workers Comp Claims: Prepping For Adverse Medical Exams

Consumer's Resource Handbook
Contains 144 pages of assistance with consumer problems and complaints.

Consumer And Government Health Care Links (NCQA.org)

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select Texas, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

See Consumer-SOS- The Workplace/Insurance. & Benefits

Insurance Regulations & Complaints
Regulations
Complaints

Insurance Regulations

Regulators Governing Health & Ins. Plans (All 50 States & DC)
For Both Managed Care Plans and Fee For Service Plans.

Know Your COBRA Rights (With Links To All 50 States & DC)
Their drop box links you to your regional or district office of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, which oversees COBRA.

Health Ins. Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (Fed Law)

Your Rights Under The Family Medical Leave Act

Consumer And Government Advocates
Many of these groups protect the consumer against unethical insurance companies. May also furnish you with regulations if you ask.

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

Related Topics

Insurance
The Work Place

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Complaints

Insurance Assistance Contact #s (Texas)
Scroll down a little more than half the page.

Ins. Co. Emergency Claim Numbers

Managed Care (Consumer-SOS)
HMOs, PPOs, Hospitals, etc.Choosing a health plan, getting them to treat you right, and where to complain and get help.

State Insurance Regulators (All 50 States & DC)

Insurance Complaints (All 50 States & DC)
Also has good info on resolving disputes.

Fighting Insurance Companies When They Deny Your Claim How to protect yourself, establish contacts, gather allies and write your appeals and grievance letters.

Consumer And Government Advocates
Many of these groups protect the consumer against unethical insurance companies. May also furnish you with regulations if you ask.

Find Your Local Newspaper, Magazine, Radio & TV Stations
Give them a little bad press and you're bargaining power increases tremendously. Select Texas, and then click on your county or city for the proper media to report to. (DC Not Included).

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

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Medical Directives/Living Wills

Designation of Guardian Advance (Texas)
For yourself and for your kids in the event you become incapacitated. Requires Acrobat Reader.

FAQs on Living Trusts (Texas)
Requires Acrobat Reader.

Durable Power of Attorney Act (Texas)
Requires Acrobat Reader.

Durable Power Of Attorney & Health Care Directives (Nolo.com)

Writing A Living Will That's Valid In Your State (For All 50 States & DC)
Scroll down 3/4ths the page to select your state and download your state's form. Then just fill in the blanks!

Living Will (All 50 States)
Click on your state and a form will appear. Fill in the blanks.
(I'm not sure this is as state specific as they say it is).

Register Your Living With With US Hospitals
Register Your Living Will With US Hospitals (Free Online Service)
The Registry electronically stores your advance directive in its computer database and identifies it by your social security number. Hospitals from anywhere in the country can then call the computer on the telephone, and request a copy of your advance directive.

Living Trust Offers: How to Make Sure They're Trust-worthy

Last Acts
Links and brochures on death related issues.

Consumer And Government Health Care Links (NCQA.org)

See Elder Care Topics ( Nolo.com)
For information on Social Security, Retirement Plans,
Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap and Managed Care, Long-Term Healthcare, Estate Planning, Healthcare Directives and Powers of Attorney and more.

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What To Ask & Tell Your Doctor

To get the most from a short visit with your doctor, it helps to prepare for the dialogue.

Before Your Appointment.

· Write down all the questions you want to ask. Pick the three you think are most important to you.

· Bring a list of all your medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. Bring in any herbs or
supplements that you take.

If you are feeling sick or too scared, bring a friend or relative who can help take notes and ask questions for you.

At The Start Of The Visit.

· Ask your doctor how much time you have together.

· Explain what you have already done to get better.

· Mention the top three "must discuss" items on your list.

During The Visit, Ask:

· What does the doctor think happened to you, and why?

· What do you need to do now?

· What will the doctor do for you?

· Will it hurt, and, if so, for how long?

· When will you and the doctor know more about how you are doing?

Discuss A Plan.

· Ask the doctor to write down the treatment choices for your illness, and the pros and cons for each
choice.

· If you don't understand what the doctor is suggesting, ask him or her to use different words that you do
understand.

· Agree on a plan of action with your doctor. And then write the plan down.

· Ask who-and when-you can call with more questions.

What To Ask About Medications

My Medicines (What To Ask)
Tips on how to read the label, avoid problems, ask questions and keep a record.

Other Questions

· What are the brand and generic names?

· Do You Have Any Trial Samples (Saves You $)

· Is there a less expensive drug?

· Which symptoms will it treat?

· How long will I have to take it?

· At what time of day?

· What happens if I miss a dose?

· Can I eat anything I want? Do I take it with food?

· Are there side effects.

· Should I avoid certain things like alcohol, smoking or sun exposure. (may cause problems with certain
antibiotics).

· Will I need to refill the prescription?

· When Should I be feeling better?

Where Else To Go For Help

Healthcare For The Uninsured (Texas)
In Texas, each non-profit hospital is required to provide a certain amount of free health care to people who have no health insurance, or cannot afford to pay for hospital care.

http://www.consumer-action.org
Check out their website for information on health care, privacy issues, insurance matters, pricing surveys on banking credit and other hot topics. Consumer Action is also a lobbyist group. Their representatives in California and Washington DC promote laws with consumer interests at heart.

The Joint Commission On Accreditation Of Heath Care Organizations/Office Of Quality Monitoring(630) 792-5642
This trade organization consists of over 5,000 hospitals and 10,000 health care providers. All members must be accredited and comply with the Joint Commission's standards for excellence. Call them to complain about the cleanliness or quality of care given by members belonging to their organization.

Low Cost Medicines
One-stop link to thousands of low cost medicines offered through hundreds of patient assistance programs sponsored by member companies, non-member companies and government and local organizations.

Benefits Checkup
Find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services. Please fill out their simple questionnaire to find programs that can assist you or your loved ones.

The Medical Information Bureau (617) 426-3660
For a charge of $8.00 they will tell you if your medical record is kept on file. Give them a call if you have been denied insurance coverage and think such was based on an error in your insurance records.

Department of Medical Assistance/Managed Care Division (800) 533-0686
Call to report Medicaid fraud.

The National Committee For Quality Assurance (800) 839-6487 or (888) 275-7585
This agency will tell you if your health plan meets their accreditation standards.

The Medicare Hotline (800) 772-1213
Call if you're a Medicare or Medicaid recipient unhappy with your treatment. Don't hang up if you hear a recording about social security. The automated system will eventually offer Medicare options.

For More Help contact your local TV and radio stations. Large companies hate bad publicity. And the last thing your insurer/HMO wants is to be on TV for not paying your claim. Get consumer help from Call For Action and ask that someone call the insurer on your behalf.

INSURANCE RESOURCES

Healthcare For The Uninsured (Texas)
In Texas, each non-profit hospital is required to provide a certain amount of free health care to people who have no health insurance, or cannot afford to pay for hospital care.

http://www.insure.com/health/
Provides well written, authoritative advice on health insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance, etc. You can also link to insurance companies, quote services and agents, but the selling is done off the insure.com site.

www.quotesmith.com
This site excels at comparing prices and terms from many firms. Their checklists help determine if health factors bar you from a specific life policy.

Mental Health

American Psychiatric Association

Mental Health Net

National Help Orgs For A Variety Of Consumer Problems
The Elderly, Environment, Families, Fraud, Health & Safety, Insurance The Handicapped, Medical Problems, Telemarketing and more.