HEALTH CARE Web site helps patients

The organization helps with insurance, job retention and debt crisis.
By SUSAN COBURN
STAMFORD ADVOCATE
Thousands of Americans run into problems involving numerous health care issues, whether they be insurance, access to adequate medical care or debt crisis.
The Patient Advocate Foundation, www.patientadvocate.org, is a national nonprofit organization set up to serve as an active liaison between patients and their insurers, employers or creditors. Founded in 1996 by a couple who were helping a friend battle breast cancer and her insurance company, the PAF now defines its role as "safeguarding patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and maintenance of financial stability."
About 80 percent of the organization's casework involves helping patients with insurance difficulties with the remainder focusing on job retention and debt crisis.
Look and feel
Patientadvocate.org is designed for easy navigation and, while not particularly flashy in design, is relatively visually pleasing to the eye. A navigational bar outlining the main sections is on the top of the home page and provides direct links to the respective content. Section titles are adequately self-explanatory. Contact information -- phone and fax numbers and e-mail address -- for the Virginia-based organization appears on the home page. Although there is no site map, a search function is provided.
A quick tour
There are many logical places to start your tour, depending on your needs. If you're in the midst of a disagreement with your insurance company regarding coverage of a medical condition or procedure, head to the area that focuses on providing visitors with tools to build an appeal. Here you will find a common-sense guide with state-by-state information on external-review programs (independent reviews to resolve disputes between patients and insurance providers), tips on putting together a strong appeal packet and much more.
If you need to find out more about the Family Medical Leave Act or the laws regarding disability, try the site's personalized help services in which professional case managers and attorneys specializing in mediation and education will help you.
Dealing with a debt crisis when you're trying to regain your health can be extremely difficult and get in the way of your recovery. Patientadvocate.org helps out by including a state-by-state resource guide with local information regarding relief for housing, utilities, food, medical treatment, home health care, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
Other useful tools and information on the site include online registration for upcoming educational programs sponsored by PAF, monthly chat sessions featuring leaders from various nonprofit organizations and a monthly online newsletter.
Links
The site lists numerous other reliable and trustworthy health Web sites.
Funding: Patientadvocate.org is nonprofit; while underwritten by a number of corporations and institutions (which are listed on the site), it does not have advertisements.