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Health Information Resources

Health Insurance Marketplace

Resources

HealthCare.gov website - Healthcare.gov has put together information about what Health Insurance Marketplace is. This new way to get affordable coverage launches October 1.

Health Marketplace for Maine Individuals - Starting October 1, 2013, Maine individuals can come to the Maine Marketplace to fill out an application to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll.

Health Marketplace for Maine Small Businesses - The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is a new way to provide insurance for your employees.

Other Health Resources

MedlinePlus.gov - "MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Health's Web site for patients and their families and friends. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it brings you information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues in language you can understand. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information, anytime, anywhere, for free."

"You can use MedlinePlus to learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition."

MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You: A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH National Institutes of Health

MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing: What should you look for when evaluating the quality of health information on Web sites? Try some suggestions.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthywebsurfing.html
Healthfinder.gov: This website contains resources on a wide range of health topics selected from over 1,600 government and non-profit organizations to bring together the most reliable health information on the Internet. www.healthfinder.gov/
GetBetterMaine: Get Better Maine is a partnership the following non-profit entities: The Maine Health Management Coalition Foundation, Maine Quality Counts, and the Maine Quality Forum; "Maine's Guide to Quality Healthcare" - Reporting quality information on Maine doctors and hospitals, the Maine Health Management Coalition Foundation (MHMC-F) hopes to empower the public to make informed decisions about the care they receive. Find comparisons of doctors, hospitals and find health resources. www.getbettermaine.org/.
KeepMEWell: Use this tool to find out what you can do to improve your health and stay well. Assess Your Health Risk quickly and receive 3 reports that will help you take action and find local support. Learn where and how to find low cost healthcare services.
Senior Health: This easy-to-use website features basic health and wellness information for older adults from the National Institutes of Health. Useful the buttons at the top of each page to make the text bigger, change text color, or hear the text read aloud.
KidsHealth: KidsHealth is the most-visited site on the Web for information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
Alternative Medicine/Complimentary Health: Research-based information from A-Z (acupuncture to zinc); information on complementary and alternative medicine; and how to find out what is safe and effective.

Evaluating Health Resources on the Web

How to Find Information Online: Health Information for Older People: Get help searching for and finding health information online.
National Library of Medicine on evaluating health information: "How can you tell the good from the bad?" Also the ability to sign up for health updates by email.
Finding Reliable Information: American Academy of Family Physicians: Questions to "ask yourself to avoid unreliable health information when you re surfing the Web"
MedlinePlus Guide to Healthy Web Surfing: Suggestions on what should people look for when evaluating the quality of health information on Web sites.
10 Things to Know about Evaluating Medical Resources on the Web: The number of websites offering health-related resources grows every day. Many sites provide valuable information, while others may have information that is unreliable or misleading. This short guide contains important questions you should consider as you look for health information online. Answering these questions, when you visit a new site, will help you evaluate the information you find.
Vaccines: Evaluating Information on the Web: Are you confused by the amount of information on immunizations on the Internet? Concerned about the rumors linking vaccines and diseases like diabetes and autism? Below are some tips to help you navigate your way through all of the information available and determine its accuracy.
Avoiding "Miracle" Health Claims: To avoid becoming victims of health fraud, it's important for consumers to learn how to assess health claims and seek the advice of a health professional. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0167-miracle-health-claims

Maine Navigators for Health Insurance Marketplace

The two organizations below were selected to provide "Navigators" for Maine citizens.

Navigators will serve as an in-person resource for Americans who want additional assistance in shopping for and enrolling in plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace this fall. These organizations will be providing people assistance in enrolling.

Western Maine Community Action:
Anticipated grant amount: $475,000
Western Maine Community Action, Inc. is a private non-profit community agency and is the lead for a state-wide consortium of eight community action agencies, collectively referred to as the WMCA Community Action Navigator Consortium. Funds will be used to create a statewide network of education, outreach and enrollment assistance available and accessible to every uninsured and under-insured individual in Maine.
Fishing Partnership Health Plan: Anticipated grant amount: $66,846
Fishing Partnership Health Plan (FPHP) is a health plan developed that provides subsidized coverage to uninsured commercial fisherman, many of whom operate as small business owners or employees. FPHP, in collaboration with the Maine Lobstermen's Association, will undertake a series of community health navigation activities, including: outreach; social marketing; distribution of material describing the program, the Affordable Care Act, and the health insurance enrollment process.