Health Care Resources and Information

Due to the overabundance of health care information available online, it's often difficult to sort through medical resources to find reliable information. Much of the information you'll find is provided by businesses trying to sell you their products or steer you toward sponsors' websites, so it's important to know where to look. This section offers a number of health care resources and information to help you make informed decisions.

Explore the links below to learn more about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term health care, power of attorney, health care directives, and more. FindLaw's Patients Rights Basics section contains a variety of additional articles and resources.

General Health Care Links

• Healthcare.gov - Federal government website focused on helping Americans get health insurance coverage in compliance with the ACA (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, or HHS).
• Patient Care and Health Information - The acclaimed Mayo Clinic maintains a searchable database of medical diseases and conditions; tests and procedures; and drugs and supplements (Mayo Clinic).
• MedlinePlus - Information about health, wellness, disorders, conditions, drugs, and much more; including tutorial videos and a medical encyclopedia (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

Elderly and Aging Americans

• BenefitsCheckUp - Free service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for older Americans; simply type in your zip code to get started (National Council on the Aging).
• CDC Health Topic: Healthy Aging - Covers chronic disease, aging, and public health; including CDC data on key indicators of health and well-being (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
• Elderly Healthcare - Features press releases and research findings, including information about nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospice (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality).
• Eldercare Locator - A free, public service that helps Americans search for elder care programs in their locale and by topic (HHS).

Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap and Managed Care

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - The federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Features consumer publications, laws, regulations and more.
• Medicare.gov - The official U.S. government site for medicare information. Features Medicare basics, health plan comparison tools and more.
• Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families - Notices, publications, and other resources about railroad workers' eligibility for benefits under the Medicare program (U.S. Railroad Retirement Board).
• Medicaid Consumer Information - Includes an overview of the Medicaid program, statistics, news alerts, and more (Health Care Financing Administration).
• National Health Law Program (NHeLP) - Includes Medicare and Medicaid articles, reports, and more.

Long-Term Health Care

• Long Term Care Wiz - Features long-term care insurance basics, glossary, ratings guide, and more; insurance quotes are provided by term insurance experts (iLeads.com)
• Nursing Home Compare - Provides detailed information about the performance of all Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes in the country; allows users to search by zip code or nursing home name (Medicare).
• Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy - Includes research projects and reports on disability, aging, and long-term care; with in-depth information on Alzheimer's disease, aging services, and long-term care insurance. (HHS)

Power of Attorney and Health Care Directives

• VA Advance Directive - Downloadable form and instructions for drafting an enforceable durable power of attorney for health care and a living will (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs).
• Advance Directives and Long-Term Care - Detailed instructions and helpful tips for drafting an advance directive and planning long-term care (Medicare).
• Giving Someone a Power of Attorney for Your Health Care - Step-by-step guide for drafting an enforceable power of attorney for health care, including a universal legal form (American Bar Association).

Get Professional Legal Help With Your Health Care Concerns

If you're sick or injured, a trained physician is best equipped to help you. But some health care matters, such as living wills and durable powers of attorney, require the help of an experienced attorney. Get started today by contacting an experienced health care law attorney near you.