Guest Author - Bonnie Sayers

A few weeks ago the Parade sunday newspaper supplement mentioned a free book entitled Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies. I received my booklet in under two weeks.

This is to help guide consumers through the open enrollment period at their place of employment and to re-evaluate their health benefits. This sixty-five page booklet has six chapers, an index and ten tips for managing your health benefits.

The site has an option for ordering additional copies of this booklet. Check out http://www.planforyourhealth.com/nyhb/article. The right side has links and you can scroll down to the middle of the page to order this dummies guidebook.

"Co-authored by Dr. Charles Cutler of Aetna and Tracey Baker, CFP, of the Financial Planning Association®"".

Even if you are not employed this free resource is a valuable tool as it helps you choose the right plan, surf websites, purchasing individual policies, over the counter meds, dealing with an emergency, lab work comparing benefit policies with your spouse, increasing coverage, having a baby, divorce, medicare, claims, death and retirement.

This is a wonderful resource that every consumer should request, and if not needed get one for the holiday stocking. I am still perusing through my copy and highlighting pertinent data.

This website helps people with the cost of medicine and health care expenses. The site has patient assistance programs, government programs and resources. There is also a listing of discount drug cards, medicaid sites and and state sponsored programs.

" NeedyMeds is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission of helping people who can't afford to pay for their medications." You can even have up to 25 brochures sent to your organization at no charge from Needy Meds. They are located at http://www.needymeds.com.

Another site that helps families and individuals is Modest Needs. They will be on the Saturday Today show on November 18, 2006. If you need help paying a specific bill you can post your data at their site and see if it gets accepted. Once that happens you have 24-48 hours to fax them the proof of income and the bill for them to pay it directly. Register at http://www.modestneeds.org.

Examples would be a mortgage or rent payment, student loan payment, auto mechanic bill, utility bill, car loan payment, etc. The payment goes directly to the creditor with no money being exchanged to consumers.

This site will help you locate a medical facility to obtain medical care even if you do not have health insurance or money.

You perform a search with your state and city or zipcode. I found many options within my area of Los Angeles. This is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration.

This will assist in finding mental health care providers, dental care, substance abuse, support services, primary medical and obstetrical and gynecological services (OB/GYN). The site is http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/


Meijer Pharmacy has a program that covers leading antibiotics with a Doctor's prescription for free. " Prescription must be picked up at store in person. Maximum 14 day supply at normal dosage"

The covered antibiotics are -

Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, SMZ-TMP, Ciprofloxacin, Ampicillin,Penicillin VK and Erythromycin

The site is located at http://www.meijer.com/pharmacy/antibiotics.asp
" Meijer is a family-owned and operated grocery and general merchandise retailer operating stores throughout the Midwest."

Store Locator Meijer is located in the following States - Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.