ABA Family Legal Guide

Health-Care Law

Health-Care Options

Dale is a single mother, at work on the first day of her new part-time job. Her supervisor keeps bringing paperwork for her to sign. In one folder is the information on the company benefits. There are three health plans from which Dale can choose. Dale skims through the policy books for each plan, but they all look the same to her. The only difference that she can see is the price. Dale does not want to spend the rest of her day wading through pages of boring legal and medical jargon. She figures that all health plans are similar and it does not really matter which one she chooses. She fills out the forms for the least expensive health plan, makes sure that her daughter will be covered, and gives the forms to her supervisor. Six months later, Dale is laid off from the job. Will she still be covered for health insurance? For how long? How much will it cost her? Will her daughter still be covered? Does she have any options if she does not find another job?

This section looks at patients' options when it comes to paying for medical care and focuses on current issues relating to managed care.

Subsections

1. Health Insurance and Managed Care Organizations
2. Medicare and Medicaid
3. State Children's Health Insurance Program