FAQ's

Q. Where I can turn for help and information about my rights and responsibilities concerning health insurance?

It is always best to first ask your insurance company or your employer for help answering your questions or solving your insurance problems. If this does not work, though, there are other resources.

Your state insurance commissioner's office is always a good place to turn for help in understanding state laws and programs; in additional, personnel may be able to direct you to other sources of assistance. They also can help you determine whether your plan is one that is under their jurisdiction. The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner can be reached via the following:

Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner
P.O. Box 40256
Olympia, WA 98504-0256
Phone: (800) 562-6900 (in state)
(360) 753-3613
Fax: (360) 407-0186
www.insurance.wa.gov

The United States Department of Labor regulates health plans offered by many large employers. For more information try www.dol.gov.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) runs the Medicare program and works with states on Medicaid programs. The CMS web page can be found at www.cms.gov.

Finally, many consumer groups such as the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship may offer assistance. For very complicated problems, you may need to consult a lawyer or another expert for professional advice and help. Or you may want to ask a friend to help you make some of these calls, gather information, and keep track of the paperwork. If a professional is needed, make sure he or she has expertise in health insurance (not all lawyers or accountants do). Health insurance can be complicated and frustrating, but you are not alone. Be persistent and take advantage of the help that is available to you.

References

What Cancer Survivors Need to Know About Health Insurance, by Kimberly J. Calder, MPS and Karen Pollitz, MPP. Published by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. (2006), 34 pages.