For Consumers

Most Families USA materials are intended for policy specialists and advocates. However, we do have some materials, listed below, that are written for individual consumers:

• Health Coverage for Young Adults: Health Reform Will Soon Allow You to Stay on Your Parent's Health Plan is a fact sheet aimed at young adults (and their parents) that is designed to answer important questions about this new opportunity to keep or obtain health coverage for young adults up to age 26. (May 2010)
• Getting Covered: Finding Health Insurance When You Lose Your Job 
  This publication is designed to help consumers who've lost their health coverage sort through possible options for new coverage, including COBRA, Medicaid, CHIP, other federal and state programs, and the individual market. (Updated March 2010)
• Your Medical Bills: A Consumer's Guide to Coping with Medical Debt covers steps for paying your medical bills, understanding your rights, and other information you need to know if you are struggling with medical debt. The guide also includes links to many useful online resources. | Fact Sheet | State Protections (November 2009)
• State Guides to Finding Health Coverage  (updated 2009)
  If you are looking for health coverage, Families USA has created a guide for each state that can help point the way. Whether you have recently lost your job, are an early retiree, or have a serious medical condition, these guides include numerous resources that may help you find the coverage you need. 
• What Is a "Special Enrollment Opportunity" and Why Should I Care about It? discusses who may have the option of signing up for job-based health coverage when it isn't open season. (June 2009)
• Your Guide to HIPAA Protections 
  The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that helps protect your rights to health coverage when you move from one health plan to another health plan. This guide describes those protections and under what circumstances they may or may not apply. (June 2007) 
• Consumer Info 
  Need help finding health insurance or learning about your rights to health care? See our list of resources.
• Consumer Assistance Program Locator 
  A directory of programs that assist consumers with Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance problems.

For Consumer Advocates

The following materials are resources for advocates and professionals who assist consumers:

• Designing a Consumer Health Assistance Program discusses these programs and how health reform will dramatically expand the assistance they provide. It reviews key considerations to keep in mind when designing such programs, including grants and other funding, function, scope, location, staffing, training, and outreach. (August 2010)
• Medicaid: Making It Work for Consumers
  Resources to help explain how consumer assistance programs, states, and advocates can help with some common Medicaid problems
• Private Insurance Legal Rights
  Resources on laws and regulations in the private health insurance market
• Health Assistance Partnership 
  The Health Assistance Partnership works with State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPS) to enhance the capacity of their programs to better serve Medicare beneficiaries