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FAQs, Tips & Advice
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FAQs, Tips & Advice
Health Insurance
Life Insurance

10 Ways To Avoid Outrageous Hospital Overcharges
Profit-hungry hospitals are overcharging consumers an estimated
$10 billion a year. Some deliberately work to keep bills indecipherable.
Here's how to fight back.

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

Healthlinkplus.org
Index of health topics grouped by subject. Links are arranged under "Health Insurance", "General Health Information", "Alternative Medicine", "Medical Research", "Health Care Providers", "Mental Health", and "Evaluating Health Information On the Internet".

FAQs On Life Insurance

Viatical Settlements

Last Acts
Links and brochures on death related issues.

For More Help See Consumer-SOS/Insurance

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Free Or Low Cost Insurance

Human Resources Administration Social Service Directory (New York Human Resources Administration)
Emergency cash assistance, food stamps, public health insurance, housing and support for victims of domestic violence, energy assistance, long term care, and child support enforcement services

HITE (New York)
An online directory of health and social services specifically for low-income, uninsured and under-insured New Yorkers. With the click of a mouse, HITE connects you to a broad array of health and support services. Includes financial assistance and much more.
Click Here for types of services.

Find The Lowest Insurance Rates (Consumer-SOS)
Insurance web sites that give you on line quotes and let you compare rates.

Find A Health Clinic In Your State, City and County (All 50 States, DC, Guam, Etc)
This Web site will help you find a clinic for medical care, even if you have no medical insurance or money.

Low Cost Help For The Uninsured (50 States & DC)
Select New York, select your city, and look up help agencies galore. Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of. Just type in words related to your search such as ""uninsured" and "medical" or "uninsured" and "clinic."

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

Medicare/Medicaid

Health Resources In All 50 States & DC
Medicaid offices in every state. Some states also have links to other resources such as hospitals, patient advocacy groups and resources for children.

Medicaid In All The 50 States (Gov Offices, Articles & Links)
This site has selected links to information about existing Medicaid plans. Medicaid is a federal-state partnership, with state laws, state regulations, federally approved state waivers, and approved "state plans" all creating significant variations from state to state.

Medicare (FAQs & Links)

Medicare Preventive Services

The Medicaid Clearing House
Has links and articles on government benefits.

Medicare Worksheet For Comparing Health Plans

Your Medicare Benefits

Social Security & Medicare/Medicaid (Nolo)

Healthlinkplus.org
Index of health topics grouped by subject. Links are arranged under "Health Insurance", "General Health Information", "Alternative Medicine", "Medical Research", "Health Care Providers", "Mental Health", and "Evaluating Health Information On the Internet".

United Way Line (For all 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies galore!!! Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of. Just type in the words "Medicare" or "Medicaid" To limit your topic, add an additional search term.

Where Else To Go For Help (Consumer-SOS)

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Social Security

The Social Security Handbook
This Handbook is intended for the use of people who want an explanation of the various Social Security programs, so that they may understand how the programs operate, who is entitled to benefits, and how these benefits may be obtained.

Social Security Disability Secrets
Advice, FAQS and in depth answers from a former Social Security Claims Examiner. Learn how to apply, how to prepare your case and more.

SS Request For Earnings & Benefits Estimate (PDF)

Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know

Social Security & Medicare/Medicaid (Nolo)

United Way Help Line (For all 50 States, DC & Puerto Rico)
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies galore!!! Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of. Just type in the words "Social Security".

Healthlinkplus.org
Index of health topics grouped by subject. Links are arranged under "Health Insurance", "General Health Information", "Alternative Medicine", "Medical Research", "Health Care Providers", "Mental Health", and "Evaluating Health Information On the Internet".

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Insurance Regulations

NY Medicaid FAQs

Health Care Holtine For Real Problems with Health Care (New York Attorney General)
Investigates denial of coverage, unfair medical billing or denial of treatments.

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

New York City Complaint Directory (Complaints Handled Not By The NY AG's Office)
A-Z Directory of where to go for help. From abandoned property to trouble with veterinarians!

New York State Workers' Compensation Board (New York)

New York FAQs On Workers Compensation Law

Worker's Compensation-What To Do If Injured On The Job (New York)
Who Is Covered, The Claim Process, Hearings & Appeals,
Disability Classifications, Social Services
Advocate for Injured Workers and more.

Where To File A Consumer Complaint (AG Locations Throughout NY)

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

Health Care Holtine For Real Problems with Health Care (New York Attorney General)
Investigates denial of coverage, unfair medical billing or denial of treatments.

Ins. Co. Emergency Claim Numbers

Managed Care (Consumer-SOS)
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.

Medical Bills (Consumer-SOS)
Cutting your costs by negotiating with insurance companies.

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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Where Else To Go For Help

Medical Bills (Consumer-SOS)
Cutting your costs, negotiating with insurance companies.

Low Cost Help For The Uninsured (50 States & DC)
This Is The United Way Helpline
Choose your state, select your city, and look up help agencies galore. Their stellar search engine can lead you to any social service topic you can think of. Just type in words related to your search such as ""uninsured" and "medical" or "uninsured" and "clinic."

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.

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INSURANCE RESOURCES

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.