Book Resources

This list of resources is a compilation of those found throughout The Healthcare Survival GuideTM, and will help you easily locate additional information about affordable and sometimes free healthcare insurance, health services and medications. The list includes contacts for a range of government and private organizations that address issues from health insurance coverage and billing matters to preventive services.

  • All about COBRA
    • Department of Labor's EFAST help line
      Frequently asked questions and answers on COBRA eligibility, costs, timelines and more.
      Call: 866-463-3278
      Website: www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

      Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)
      Full details on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and how it relates to COBRA continuation coverage.
      Call: 866-444-EBSA (3272)
      Website: www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html

  • Government Programs
    • National Association of State Medicaid Directors (NASMD)
      Find your state Medicaid office.
      Call: 202-682-0100
      Website: www.nasmd.org/links/state_medicaid_links.asp

      Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
      Information on CHIP's Medicaid coverage for uninsured children in each state.
      Website: www.insurekidsnow.gov/states.asp

      Federal Health Programs for Native Americans
      Additional, detailed information on the various healthcare offerings for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
      Website: www.ihs.gov

      Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE)/U.S. Uninsured Help Line
      Extensive information to help find coverage for individuals and families. Locate services, apply for state programs and more.
      Call: 800-234-1317
      Website: www.coverageforall.org

      U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration
      Find federally funded health centers in cities and rural areas nationwide. Type in address to find nearby centers.
      Website: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov

      U.S. Social Security Administration
      Detailed information and links about all types of Medicare benefits, including eligibility, costs, timelines and more.
      Website: www.ssa.gov/pgm/links_medicare.htm

      The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare
      Extensive information about all types of Medicare benefits, including eligibility, costs, timelines and more.
      Call: 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227)
      Website: www.medicare.gov

      Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare Part C)
      These plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. To find such plans, visit the websites of private insurance companies such as Aetna, CIGNA, Kaiser Permanente, AARP MedicareComplete, Humana and BlueCross BlueShield.

      Medigap Coverage
      These plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. To find such plans, visit the websites of private insurance companies such as Aetna, CIGNA, Kaiser Permanente, AARP MedicareComplete, Humana and BlueCross BlueShield.

      National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
      Provides details about cervical cancer screening services for uninsured and underinsured women in the United States.
      Website: www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp

      National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance
      Information and education about the various state high-risk pools that offer health coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.
      Website: www.naschip.org

      Veterans' Affairs Medical Care Hardship Program
      Details on help for veterans with a recent income change. Find out more about VA health benefits.
      Call: 800-827-1000
      Website: www.va.gov/healtheligibility/costs/Hardship.asp

  • Comparison-Shop for Coverage
  • Little Known Cost-Cutting Strategies
    • American Medical Association (AMA)
      Provides help with finding nearby doctors willing to forgo fees for medical care.
      Website: webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/home.jsp

      U.S. National Institutes of Health
      Find a list of current clinical trials nearby.
      Website: clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search

      U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
      Locate low-cost mental health treatment and/or support groups nearby.
      Website: www.samhsa.gov/treatment/index.aspx

      Convenient Care Association (CCA)
      Find nearby retail-based clinics for lower-cost care.
      Website: www.ccaclinics.org (select "Looking for Clinics?")

      Walgreen's Take Care Clinic
      Walgreen's may provide free or low-cost treatments for minor medical issues, such as warts, colds and more.
      Call: 866-TAKE-CARE (866-825-3227)
      Website: www.takecarehealth.com

      Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
      Get information about insurance- and healthcare-related services for life-threatening conditions or debilitating diseases — including patient education, help with insurance appeals, financial assistance and more.
      Call: 800-532-5274
      Website: www.patientadvocate.org

  • Keep a Watch on Medical Bills
  • Best Ways to Get Drugs at a Discount (or free!)
    • access2wellness
      Find out about eligibility for prescription assistance programs from this program, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.
      Call: 866-317-2775
      Website: www.access2wellness.com/a2w/index.html

      Consumer Reports Health
      Provides free drug price comparisons. Choose a drug from A-to-Z and look for the "Compare Prices" symbol.
      Website: www.consumerreports.org/health/prescription-drugs/a-z-drug-index/A.htm

      Pfizer
      Find out about free and discounted Pfizer prescriptions.
      Call: 866-706-2400
      Website: www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com

      United Way
      Find out about volunteer- and community-based services through agencies, such as the American Cancer Society, through the United Way.
      Website: www.liveunited.org/health/

      Partnership for Prescription Assistance
      Find extensive information about free and lower-cost prescription medications, including links to all pharmaceutical companies and states that participate in prescription assistance programs.
      Website: www.pparx.org

      Prescription Savings Card
      Get information and/or apply for this printable drug discount card for both brand-name and generic prescription drugs.
      Website: www.PSCard.com

      NeedyMeds
      Provides free information for those who cannot afford medications and/or healthcare. Includes information on patient assistance programs, discount drug cards and more.
      Website: www.needymeds.org/indices/needymedspage.shtml

      RxAssist
      Features a large database of patient assistance programs, as well as a wealth of informative healthcare and medication resources.
      Website: www.rxassist.org

      U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
      Locate information on State Prescription Assistance Programs (SPAPs) for discounts on prescription medications.
      Website: www.medicare.gov/spap.asp

      United Way and FamilyWize Free Prescription Drug Cards
      The United Way and FamilyWize have teamed up to offer this free prescription drug card to those who qualify.
      Website: www.familywize.com

  • Take Charge of Your Health
    • CoverTheUninsured
      Find local health fairs for free or low-cost preventive screenings.
      Website: www.covertheuninsured.org (look for "Upcoming Events")

      U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
      Find federal guidelines on preventive screenings.
      Website: www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm#Recommendations

      Free, Online Personal Health Records (PHRs)
      Several websites offer free, electronic Personal Health Records (PHRs) with free registration.
      Google: www.google.com/health
      Microsoft: www.healthvault.com
      WebMd: www.webmd.com/phr

      National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
      Provides details about free and low-cost screenings for breast and cervical cancer for those who are eligible.
      Website: www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp

      Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC)
      Provides details about free and low-cost prostate cancer screenings for those who are eligible.
      Website: www.prostateconditions.org/programs_and_events

      Planned Parenthood
      Offers low-cost reproductive healthcare services to eligible men and women. Fees are based on a sliding-fee scale.
      Call: 800-230-PLAN (800-230-7526)
      Website: www.plannedparenthood.org

      American Cancer Society (ACS)
      The ACS can help those in need to find low-cost cancer screenings in their area.
      Call: 800-ACS-2345
      Website: www.cancer.org (look for "Find ACS in Your Community" and enter your zip code)

  • Discover Health Advocacy
    • Health AdvocateTM
      Health AdvocateTM, Inc., the nation's leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, offers a spectrum of time- and money-saving solutions to businesses. We serve more than 15 million Americans and 5,000 clients — including the nation's largest companies — offering expert, personalized help to navigate the complex healthcare system and resolve clinical and insurance issues. Our complementary solutions, offered for an additional charge, include Wellness Advocate, Pricing Decision Support and HR solutions. The company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent® to individuals who are not part of groups.

      Founded in 2001 and headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Health Advocate has been recognized as one of America's fastest growing companies by Inc. 500 and is rated one of Philadelphia magazine's Top 20 Best Places to Work.

      Health Advocate is not affiliated with any insurance or third party provider. Health Advocate does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment.

      Health AdvocateTM
      Call: 866-695-8622
      Website: www.HealthAdvocate.com

      Health ProponentTM
      Call: 877-93-WE-HELP (877-939-3435)
      Website: www.HealthProponent.com