It's important that you know your rights when it comes to medicine and your health. Click Here to learn more.

E-Newsletter

For Patients: Know your healthcare rights

It is often difficult to obtain the healthcare which is right for you and your health condition.  The information on these pages will assist people who have any type of healthcare coverage (Medicare, private insurance, HMO insurance, Medicaid, etc.)

Your healthcare rights may be differ by state and the type of health insurance you have, but some healthcare rights are universal.  Click here to learn about your basic healthcare rights.

First, it is important to know who your insurer is (examples include Aetna, Blue Cross, Kaiser, Pacificare, etc.).  This information is usually easily found by looking at your insurance card, your insurance bill, or your evidence of coverage.

Second, it is important to know what type of coverage you have because your rights may differ under different types of health insurance. The most common types of health insurance are:

And third, who governs or regulates youir insurance plan? This can sometimes get complicated.  Click here for more information.

Links:

The Georgetown Health Policy Institute has created some brochures to help people understand their rights.  Click here to visit their site.

The Kaiser Family Foundation has created a consumer guide to help you deal with health insurance disputes.  Click here to visit their site.

What's New

April 14th, 2008- The ABM joins the Patient Centered Quality Alliance and the National Minority Quality Forum at a meeting in Washington DC.

December 1, 2007- The ABM moves to a new location- Visit our Contact page for more information

September 18th, 2007 - Cancer patients will be holding a rally at the FDA protesting recent decisions to deny cancer patients new, potentially life-saving treatments. More Information...

August 16, 2007 - Alliance For Better Medicine letter to the editor is published in the Wall Street Journal. Read the Letter

May 21, 2007 - The Alliance For Better Medicine receives IRS 501(c)(3) designation.

December 22, 2006 - ABM participates in a meeting with advocacy organizations and a representative of the Governor's office to discuss recommendations for California's Health Reform.

October 30, 2006 - ABM meets with the California Department of Health Services about implementation of the California Healthcare Accountability Center.

September 6, 2006 - Harold Pincus, MD joins the ABM medical advisory board.

February 16, 2006 - Ruben King-Shaw Jr., CEO of Mansa Equity Partners, Inc., and former Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Office of the CMS, joins the ABM steering committee.

December 6, 2005 - Sacramento, CA Alliance meets with staff in Gov. Schwarzenegger's office to discuss implementation of the California Healthcare Accountability Center.

October 18, 2005 - Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, MD joins the ABM steering committee.

October 7, 2005 - Bryan Luce, Ph.D., MBA joins the ABM steering committee.