NEWS

UNC authors release free new health insurance guide

By DAVID WILLIAMSON
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL -- For the benefit of all state residents, the N.C. Institute of Medicine has released a new book written by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill authors and titled "A Consumer’s Guide to Health Insurance and Health Programs in North Carolina."

"We prepared the guide to help everyone navigate the health-care system, whether it involves understanding their private health insurance coverage, identifying available public programs or finding community health resources in their area," said Dr. Pam Silberman, vice president of the institute and associate director for policy analysis at UNC’s Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

"Our goal is to get the book, which is free, to as many people as possible."

Posted on the Internet at: http://www.nciom.org/hlthinspgms.html, the guide also should be available in hard copies soon through the state’s public library system. Asheley Cockrell Skinner, a doctoral student in health policy and administration at the UNC School of Public Health, was co-author.

"With rising health-care costs and the downturn in the economy, people are struggling to meet their personal and families’ health care needs," Silberman said. "The rising costs of health insurance and health care, lack of prescription drug coverage for individuals on Medicare and problems finding affordable health insurance coverage among people who recently lost their jobs are but a few of the problems that people across the state are facing. Even those who have insurance coverage lack the information needed to understand their rights."

The guide describes individual and group health insurance products and offers information on who may be covered, how to obtain coverage, any limitations or exclusions in coverage and consumer protection laws governing health insurance products offered in North Carolina.

Also included are chapters on publicly funded health insurance programs, state health programs and mental health services available throughout the state. Those sections provide information on the benefits, costs, eligibility rules that apply to specific publicly funded programs and where to call for more information.

"’A Consumer Guide’ is an important resource for individuals trying to understand what insurance products and health programs are available to meet their health-care needs," said Dr. Gordon H. DeFriese, president and CEO of the N.C. Institute of Medicine. "In this day and age, it is important for consumers to understand their rights so that they can best ensure that their families’ health needs are met. This book will also help non-profits, health-care professionals and service providers identify resources that can help address their clients’ unmet health needs."

Chartered in 1983 by the N.C. General Assembly, the N.C. Institute of Medicine is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves as a non-political source of analysis and advice on issues of relevance to state residents’ health. The institute convenes individuals and organizations with health-relevant expertise, studies complex and often controversial health issues and provides advice on options to solve the state’s health-care problems.

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Note: Silberman can be reached at (919) 401-6599 (Ext. 23) at the N.C. IOM or (919) 966-2670 at the Sheps Center.

Contact: David Williamson, (919) 962-8596