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PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258 The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network
Navigating COBRA after the Passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Separate Website)
Information on changes to the COBRA law (that allows employees losing their job to maintain health insurance) that resulted from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). ARRA provides a 65% subsidy to COBRA premiums for up to nine months to many individuals who have lost their jobs and employer-sponsored health insurance.
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
How to Obtain Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services in Southwestern Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
A listing of in county-specific resources for treatment in Southwestern Pennsylvania
By: Pennsylvania Health Law Project
Information from Bar Associations and Other Legal Organizations
Legal Briefs: In Tough Economic Times (Video)
(Separate Website)
February 26, 2009 edition of Legal Briefs, presented on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. Whitney Hughes, of the Allegheny County Bar Association, offers some legal advice and tips on unemployment compensation and COBRA health insurance, including recent changes to help unemployed workers, in these tough economic times.
By: Allegheny County Bar Association
Health Benefits Advisor
(Separate Website)
The Health Benefits Advisor is designed to help workers and their families better understand employer and employee organization (such as a union) provided group health benefits and the laws that govern them, especially when they experience changes in their life and work situations--such as marriage, childbirth, job loss or retirement.
By: United States Department of Labor
Consumer Information on Health Plans
(Separate Website)
Listing of resources for consumers regarding health benefits.
By: United States Department of Labor
Continuation of Health Coverage - COBRA
(Separate Website)
Information about a federal program program that provides continued health care coverage for people who lose their benefits.
By: United States Department of Labor
Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA)
(Separate Website)
Information on Federal Laws that provide rights and protection for people participating in group or individual health plans.
By: United States Department of Labor
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
(Separate Website)
Information on HIPAA, which guarantees the portability, availability and renewability of health insurance coverage for certain employees and individuals, limits the use of preexisting condition restrictions, promotes the use of medical savings accounts and establishes tax qualified long-term care policies
By: Pennsylvania Insurance Department
What HIPAA Does and Does Not Do
(Separate Website)
Information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA, which includes important new - but limited - protections for millions of working Americans and their families. HIPAA may lower your chance of losing existing coverage, ease your ability to switch health plans and/or help you buy coverage on your own if you lose your employer's plan and have no other coverage available.
By: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Pension and Health Care Coverage, Q&As for Dislocated Workers
(Separate Website)
Information regarding what could happen to your health and pension benefits if you lose your job or your hours are reduced below full-time.
By: United States Department of Labor
Employee Retirement Income Security Act – ERISA
(Separate Website)
An introduction to federal protections for people participating in many volunteer employee health plans.
By: United States Department of Labor
Newborns and Mother Protection (Newborn’s Act)
(Separate Website)
Information about maternity and newborn coverage in health care plans.
By: United States Department of Labor
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Protections
(Separate Website)
Information about health care plan coverage for women who have breast cancer and are considering a mastectomy.
By: United States Department of Labor
If You're Self Employed
(Separate Website)
Fact Sheet for people who are self-employed regarding paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, earning credits, calculating net earnings, and more.
By: Social Security Administration
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Spanish / Español
A Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
This guide describes your protections as a resident of Pennsylvania. Chapter 1 gives an overview of your protections. Chapters 2 and 3 explain your protections under group and individual health plans. Chapter 4 highlights your protections as a small employer. Chapter 5 summarizes help that may be available to you if you cannot afford health coverage.
By: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
A Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Employer or Private Health Plan, 2005 Update
(Separate Website)
Guide to help consumers through the process of resolving disputes with their health plans. It includes information about how consumers can take advantage of their health plans' internal processes to resolve disputes, as well as external review processes as allowed under state laws.
By: The Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumers Union
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PALawHELP.org is provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Legal Services Corporation.
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