Health Insurance Information

If you are having problems with insurance coverage for
health care and medications, here are some suggestions
and a whole bunch of resources to check for getting the
most out of your plan:

Family Voices - a grass roots effort speaking on behalf of
children with special health needs, has extensive information
including insurance assistance. Phone#: 1-888-835-5669 or
on the web at http://www.familyvoices.org

HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996. Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance
coverage for workers and their families when they change
or lose their jobs. Information is available at
http://cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa1/default.asp. The Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services site also includes
information about Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and links to other web
sites of interest.

Health Insurance Info.Net - has consumer guides for all
50 U.S. states that provide information on getting and keeping
health insurance. On the web at
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net

S.N.A.P (Special Needs Advocate for Parents) - offers a
Medical Insurance Empowerment Program for parents with
private medical insurance. This is a helpline with consultants
available to help with insurance questions and suggestions
for obtaining coverage from your carrier.
Contact http://www.snapinfo.org, email to info@snapinfo.org
or call 1-888-310-9889.

NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders)
Maintains a list of pharmaceutical companies with reduced
cost medication assistance programs for those in need.
Check their web site at
http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication

Foundation Grants to Individuals
For a subscription price of $9.95 per month, The Foundation
Center offers access to a database of foundations and
charitable organizations that provide scholarships to
individuals. Some of these will cover medical costs.
The Foundation Center is located at
http://www.gtionline.fdncenter.org.

Texas Legal Services Center
Publishes a report called "Free and Low Cost
Prescription Drugs" compiled by The Cost
Containment Research Institute. Print this report
for free at
http://wwww.tlsc.org/Community_Education/community_education.htm

Metlife
Provides information about planning for future care of a special
child through special needs trusts, survivorship whole life
insurance plans, and other options. Go to http://wwww.metlife.com
and click on "For the Future of Your Child with Special Needs".