Lerner Survey of Health Care in New York: Your Consumer Guide - Softcover

Lerner, Paul; Lerner, Julie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0966999916 ISBN 13: 9780966999914

Publisher: Lerner Communication, 1999

Synopsis

In this age of health care crisis, HMO backlash, and skyrocketing medical costs, Lerner Survey of Health Care in New York is a groundbreaking consumer guidebook. It gives New Yorkers clear and unbiased information about health care in their community. For people who are frustrated by their health plans or confused about how to find the best medical care, this book provides a wealth of knowledge and plain-English answers. What the Zagat Survey does for restaurants and Consumer Reports does for household products, Lerner Survey does for health care.

The book grades the region's major health plans, based on a survey of 1,773 New Yorkers who are heavy users of health care. It provides real-life consumer comments about HMOs and health insurance plans, and compiles quality rankings for New York area hospitals. And it lists thousands of names, telephone numbers, addresses and websites for consumer protection hotlines, free and low-cost services, government agencies, alternative health care, women's health, Medicare, children's health and parents' resources, not-for-profit organizations, disease-specific groups, individual and self-employed persons' health resources, small-business health plans, and much more. The book includes a glossary, index, and list of useful websites.

A 1998 Harris poll found that the three worst-rated industries for doing a good job serving customers were tobacco, managed health care, and health insurance. It's time for health care consumers to fight back and demand better service. Lerner Survey of Health Care in New York shows readers how.

About this title

From the Author:

We are a brother and sister who have learned a lot about health care. Julie is a survivor of cancer. Paul worked in the AIDS field. We have seen that patients are sometimes treated poorly, overcharged, denied services, and prevented from receiving information - and we are determined to help people get the best health care while getting around the health care bureaucracy. Readers of our book will learn answers to important questions like: If your health plan denies you services, what can you do? Which are the best rated hospitals in New York? Where will you find affordable services? How can you find the best medical care for yourself and your loved ones? We encourage everyone to join us in promoting a new individual health advocacy. Start by recognizing that health care is a business, and you are a consumer - so be an informed and assertive consumer. Our book will help you do just that.

From the Back Cover:

At last, here is the consumer's guide to health care in New York. The Lerner Survey is your one-stop source of information about health plans and medical services. The book is packed with useful facts to help you make the right decisions - along with evaluations of the major health plans from a survey of 1,773 New Yorkers. The Lerner Survey will help you:

Choose the best health plan for your needs. See how other New Yorkers grade the plans, and read their comments.

Discover your consumer rights to health care, the laws on the books for your protection, the organizations that can help you, and the hotline numbers to call.

Find free and low-cost services, hospitals, alternative health care, individual health plans, Medicare information, women's health services, small-business plans, and other valuable resources - with names, telephone numbers, addresses, and websites. Save money, time, and aggravation - because the most important information is now at your fingertips.

Health care is the largest industry in the United States, with more than $1 trillion a year in spending. To get the best care, you must be an informed and assertive consumer. This book will show you how.

Best of all, everything is written in plain English! Protect yourself and your loved ones with the Lerner Survey.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lerner Communication
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0966999916
• ISBN 13: 9780966999914
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320