Maximizing Your Health Insurance Benefits

A comprehensive guide designed to help consumers understand the American health insurance system so that they can obtain the benefits to which they are entitled. Epstein explains the ins and outs of both new and traditional health insurance plans, including traditional individual and group policies, HMOs and other types of managed care plans, self-funded plans, Medicare, Medicare HMOs, Medigap, long-term care, COBRA, CHAMPUS, and Medical Savings Accounts.

Written by a nationally syndicated columnist, this useful volume also deals with special health insurance issues related to children, adults with special needs, and individuals who may need long-term care. In addition, Epstein provides valuable information for individuals who are in the process of changing jobs or making changes in their marital or family status, choosing a health insurance plan, or arranging long-term care—including placement in a nursing home or an assisted-living facility—for an aging parent. The book has a practical focus with a variety of tables and worksheets to help consumers establish a system for preventing health insurance problems, and for dealing with any health insurance problems that may arise. It also contains answers to common questions about health insurance, and provides a list of organizations that offer detailed information and advice in regard to specific health insurance problems.

RICHARD EPSTEIN writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column, Insurance TroubleShooter, as well as a health insurance column for Exceptional Parent Magazine. With a BA degree from Brooklyn College, a masters from the New School for Social Research, and additional post-graduate work at the New School and at Columbia University, Epstein began researching the health insurance maze 15 years ago, when his spinal arthritis became so severe that he required an electric wheelchair for mobility. He found that many of the rules that insurance companies followed seemed illogical and, at times, almost incomprehensible.