Consumer Organizations

Consumers Union Health Care Issues: Consumers Union publishes Consumer Reports. This site, part of the Consumers Union website, focuses on specific health care issues. It includes press releases, articles, and other written material regarding such issues as Medicare, conversion of hospitals from a nonprofit to a for-profit model, affordability and prescription drugs.

Families USA: This consumer oriented group works for affordable, quality health care. It prepares public policy reports, keeps watch over government health-related activity and conducts public information campaigns. The website, which cannot be adequately appreciated in just one visit, has information about health care issues and resources for health care activism.

HealthCareCoach.com: Health information for consumers as they make decisions about insurance coverage, choosing physicians, accessing medical care, and researching medical conditions and medical treatment options.

healthinsuranceinfo.net: This site, written and maintained by the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, has detailed, comprehensive. and easily understood consumers guides on getting and keeping insurance in each state. It also has a newsletter available by subscription, and offers consumer alerts regarding specific health insurance plans.

Public Citizen: Health Research Group: The health-related section of Ralph Nader's Public Citizen organization. This site has information on questionable physicians, on medications, on occupational health and so on. There are mailing lists and ways to sign up to be involved in grassroots activities.

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healthcare/healthcarebackgroundreading.htm

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healthcare/healthcarebackgroundreading.doc