| Introduction
Knowledge is
power; it enables you to become more effective in daily living!
Become an educated consumer of health insurance and your own
best advocate. This information is compiled for persons with
spinal cord injuries/diseases (SCI/D) and other disabilities
and their families. It gives a basic overview of information
that an individual needs to know to become a more enlightened
consumer of health insurance. For people with SCI/D, achieving
and maintaining optimal health and preventing secondary conditions
is vital. Access to quality
healthcare often requires an understanding of the following
topics, all included on this website:
- Understanding
your rights as a health consumer
- Guidelines
for selecting an insurance policy and understanding its
provisions
- Steps
to negotiate the insurance maze
- Frequently
asked questions
- General
guidelines for the appeals process (if your claim is
denied)
- Suggestions
if you have been unable to obtain health insurance
- Appendices
of Helpful Resources
- Where
to find your State Insurance Commissioner
- Where
to find information about changing Federal
and State laws that affect health insurance coverage
 c.
- Booklets,
offices pertaining to health insurance.
As
with any information dealing with this subject, it
is impossible to include and address all concerns one may have
about health insurance. This website is not intended to cover
every situation or every nuance of insurance law. Highly
technical questions that you may have should be directed
to your insurance agent, personnel specialist, or your
own lawyer. Hopefully, you will gain the basic knowledge
that you need to exercise your rights
regarding health insurance and your own plan.
by Charleene
R. Frazier, R.N., M.S.
NSCIA Resource Center Associate,
SCI Nurse Consultant
National
Spinal Cord Injury Association wishes to thank Medtronic, Inc.,
who has generously provided a grant to underwrite the costs
of the development of these guidelines and for their commitment
to persons with spinal cord injury.
NSCIA acknowledges, with appreciation, the contributions
of Bernadette and Robert Mauro in the early stages of the development
of these guidelines. |
Insurance
Guide
