Where Can I Find Reliable Information about Health Insurance?

Shopping for health insurance can be a bit challenging. There are many different types of policies. Then there are all of the different details within the policy concerning, limitations, deductibles - add to that other options like discount medical plans, Health Savings accounts - it certainly can get very confusing. Insurance industry experts and consumer advocates agree the best way to find the right kind of health insurance policy is to become an educated consumer. But where do you go for reliable information about health insurance?

The Internet has become a wonderful resource when it comes to those needing to purchase an individual medical insurance policy. Many websites, such as InsuranceBudget.com, have tools that will allow you to get instant quotes and compare affordable health insurance rates form several different companies immediately. But even before you start to shop for a policy, it is best to learn as much as you can. One site where you can find a lot of useful information about Health Insurance is HealthInsurance.org. There you will find glossary of health insurance terms, consumer tips, and a searchable database of resources. More reliable information can be found through the Governments Department of Health and Human Services - Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, (AHRQ). On this site you will find a wealth of information not only about medical and health insurance in a concise and easy to understand manner, but on many topics relating to health issues. Other websites operated by the Department where you can find valuable information regarding health insurance are Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (http://www.cms.gov/default.asp?)  The Health Resources and Services Administration (http://www.hrsa.gov/) and the National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov/).  No longer part of Health and Human Services, of course the Social Security Administration (SSA) is also a source of information about health, health insurance questions and specifics on what benefits are available through SSA and who qualifies for them (http://www.ssa.gov). Literally 100's of Free Publications on the topic of Health Insurance can be found by logging on to the Governments listing of Free Publications at (http://catalog.gpo.gov/F) and searching under "Health Insurance".  Accessing the well known "Free Consumer Information Guides" from Pueblo Colorado can also be accomplished on-line at the Federal Citizen Information Center (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/) There you can again find 100's of downloadable versions of pamphlets such as "A Guide to Long Term Care Insurance" everything you need to know about Medicare and Medicaid, the latest information regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) - even information about health insurance for American's traveling abroad.

Other sources for increasing your knowledge of health insurance and medical benefits include the website of the AHIP (www.ahip.org) - a national organization of health insurance providers. Seniors can find a great deal of information regarding healthcare, health insurance, and prescription drugs through the AARP, (http://www.aarp.org/) and for an idea of how insurance companies are rated visit http://www.ambest.com/, the website of A.M. Best Company which is recognized as one of the industry leaders in providing rating information and other data on insurance companies.