Are you afraid to go to the doctors? Are your medical bills piling up because you don’t understand your health insurance? Community Health Advocates can help!
On a webinar this week, I learned about Community Health Advocates (CHA). CHA is a not-for-profit organization that helps New Yorkers navigate the complex health care system by providing individual assistance, outreach, and education to communities throughout New York State. CHA has always been an “all-payer” program, providing one-stop services to consumers with public or private coverage, or no coverage at all. Visit
The following excerpt is from their website:
“We help New Yorkers:
- Understand how to use their health insurance
- Resolve medical billing and debt issues
- Dispute coverage denials and eligibility determinations
- Get the most from their coverage (get prior authorizations, access specialists, and out-of-network services when needed)
- Access affordable health care services and hospital and prescription financial assistance programs
- Understand how small business owners can offer health insurance and get health insurance tax credits
- Understand health insurance tax credit forms and the reconciliation process
Services we offer:
ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE
We have a network of community-based organizations and a live answer Helpline where New Yorkers can get one-on-one, free, unbiased information and assistance.
CONSUMER EDUCATION
We conduct community presentations to health care consumers, advocates, small employers, and providers about health insurance programs and New Yorkers’ rights as health care consumers.
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
We develop capacity at community-based organizations to address local health access needs through ongoing trainings, direct assistance to consumers and small business employers, technical assistance, and program oversight.
POLICY FEEDBACK LOOP
We provide critical, real-time feedback about health insurance and access to health care issues and trends. We serve as the eyes and ears of communities for state policy makers.”