MEDICATIONS, HEALTH INSURANCE & INSURANCE

Medications

General information about medications, at the NAMI website

DrugWatch.com provides up-to-date information on the side effects of common prescription and over-the-counter medications.

MassMedLine is a free, confidential service available to all Massachusetts residents who are seeking information regarding their medications. Whether you are having difficulties affording your medications or want to know what the side effects are to your prescriptions, MassMedLine can help, 866-633-1617.

Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Index to Drug-Specific Information

Drugalert.org: Keeping an eye on presciption medication.

MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

Genericmedlist.com Compare generic medications discount programs from major retail pharmacies.

Prescription Advantage is a state-sponsored prescription drug insurance plan for Massachusetts seniors and disabled residents. For people on Medicare, Prescription Advantage helps pay Part D Prescription Drug Plan costs. For people not on Medicare, the program provides primary prescription drug coverage

Using Antipsychotics to Treat: Depression, Comparing Effectiveness, Safety, and Price Consumer Reports Health, Best Buy Drugs, Published October 2011

Health Insurance

MassHealth, official government site to apply for Medicaid, prescription drugs list and other information:

Working with Your Health Insurer: 10 Tips for Families. When you have a child or youth with special health care needs, your health insurer is an important partner. Here are some tips to help ensure your child is receiving the maximum amount of health services covered by your insurance:

Massachusetts Commonwealth Connector, it’s mission it to help you find the right health plan and avoid tax penalties:

Medicare, Medicare and you booklet (current year), eligibility, Prescription Drug Plans (current year), and other information

Extra help for Medicare (Part D) beneficiaries: help with lowered premiums and co-pays if you have limited income and resources, find out if you are eligible and apply online, in English and Spanish:

Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders (SHINE) provides health insurance counseling services to the elderly and disabled adults. SHINE counselors are trained to handle complex questions:

Health Care For All, healthcare resources, public and private programs (Multilingual):

Guide that provides information about how to get health insurance, pre-existing conditions, Medicare, what happens to your coverage if you leave your job and answers to many other questions about health insurance. This link opens a PDF document.
http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/insuranceqa/insuranceqa.pdf

Ask Medicare. The Department of Health and Human Services has created a web site called “Ask Medicare” to help caregivers navigate the often confusing Medicare system.

You have privacy rights under a federal law that protects your health information (HIPAA). These rights are important for you to know. You can exercise these rights, ask questions about them, and file a complaint if you think your rights are being denied or your health information isn’t being protected. This link opens a PDF document.
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/consumer_rights.pdf

Health Law Advocates, for assistance to appeal denials of coverage by private health insurance plans and government programs, actions to reduce large medical bills. 

Mass. Dept. of Public Health, Office of Patient Protection, Managed Care Protections and Grievances (Consumer Guide, Frequently Asked Questions also in many languages, Internal and External Review Process, etc.):

The Autism Insurance Resource Center provides information to the public about insurance coverage under a new law, An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism (ARICA), which took effect in Massachusetts on January 1, 2011. There are many questions relating to the implementation of the law, e.g., to whom, ARICA applies, what treatments are covered and how to access coverage.

Insurance

Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance, this guide answers many questions about long-term care insurance, including how much it costs, what it covers and where to find long-term care insurance.

The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions to safeguard their families’ financial futures. The main topics addressed in their educational efforts are life, disability, long-term care and health insurance. LIFE does not endorse any product, company or insurance advisor.

Mass. Division of Insurance, Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Information for Consumers – consumer guides about various types of insurance policies:

InsureMASS Insurance Premium Comparison Website, Auto Insurance Rate Comparison Tool. This site produces sample insurance premiums for typical drivers with various backgrounds and levels of experience. Your actual premium may differ significantly from the sample based on specific information that you will provide to a company when you apply for insurance.