In General

• Choosing a Health Care Facility Websites to help you compare healthcare facilities from The Consumer Action Handbook. (Federal Citizen Information Center)
• Ten Things to Think About: Choosing a Physician Offers tips on what to look for in a physician and how to know if you've found the right one. (FindLaw)
• The Risks and Benefits of Long-Term Care Insurance Insurance companies advertise long-term care insurance as a necessary protection against the high cost of care. But is it really a good investment? (Nolo Press)
• Things You Should Know: Taking Prescription Medications Provides information on how to read prescriptions, how to take prescribed medications, and how to respect such medications. (FindLaw)
• Tips on How to Be a Good Patient Covers understanding your rights and acting responsibly and with your interests in mind. (FindLaw)
• Understanding Informed Consent - A Primer Discusses what is informed consent and what can happen if informed consent is not given prior to medical treatment. (FindLaw)

Power of Attorney & Healthcare Directives

• Power of Attorney Legal Services for the Elderly. Covers power of attorneys, choosing an agent, agents and more. (Maine Legal Services to the Elderly)
• The Durable Power of Attorney (Probate and Estate Planning Section - State Bar of Michigan)
• Ways to Plan Ahead for Medical Care and Treatment Discusses living wills, advanced directives, and other tools to help you plan prior to a medical crisis. (FindLaw)
• What You Can Cover in Your Health Care Directives An overview of some important medical issues you'll face when preparing a living will and a power of attorney for health care. (Nolo Press)
• Duty of Medical Personnel to Honor Your Health Care Directives Know when health care providers must follow your instructions for medical care -- and when they may not. (Nolo Press)

Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap and Managed Care

• Medicare: An Overview Provides a general overview of Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and benefits. (FindLaw)
• Medicare and Home Health Care Explains the home health benefit, including eligibility, coverage and more. In PDF format. (Medicare.gov)
• Medicare's New Prescription Drug Coverage: Medicare Part D   Medicare Part D covers some of the costs of prescription medications you take at home. (Nolo Press)
• Choosing a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan   Consider costs, coverage, and restrictions when shopping for a Medicare Part D plan. (Nolo Press)
• Medicaid: A Primer Provides a basic overview of the Medicaid program, including a discussion of the program's impact, enrollment, services covered, and financing. (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)
• Medicare and Medicaid Explained A comparison between Medicare and Medicaid and explanations of both types of coverage. (Nolo Press)
• Medigap: Covering the Gaps in Medicare If you're ill or seriously injured, Medicare won't cover all your expenses. Here's what you need to know about the policies designed to pick up the slack, called Medigap insurance. (Nolo Press)
• Medicare Managed Care Plans: An Alternative to Medigap Insurance Learn how a managed care plan can supplement your Medicare coverage. (Nolo Press)
• Tips on Choosing a Medicare Managed Care Plan Before signing on the dotted line, make sure a Medicare managed care plan meets your needs. Here are some tips that can help you make the best decision. (Nolo Press)

See also:

• Elder Law: Articles