Note: Many phone numbers have people who speak a language other than English. In addition, websites are often translated or have pages in a different language for the consumer.
HMO Help Center
Information on California health plans
1-888-HMO-2219 (many languages)
1-877-688-9891 (TTY)
www.hmohelp.ca.gov (Spanish, Chinese)
DMHC Plan Surveys and Summary Reports
Reports on health plan surveys conducted by the DMHC to make sure that
California health plans meet quality and medical standards
www.dmhc.ca.gov/library/reports/med_survey/med_default.asp
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Tools to help people make more informed decisions and improve the quality of health care services
1-800-358-9295
www.ahrq.gov (Spanish)
California Department of Insurance (CDI)
Information on
health insurance plans in California (CDI licenses and regulates some non-HMO health and disability insurance and most Medigap plans.)
1-800-927-4357 (many languages)
1-800-482-4833 (TTY)
www.insurance.ca.gov (Spanish)
California Office of the Patient Advocate
Report cards on the quality of California HMOs, consumer education materials and programs, and information on collaboration with government and community-based patient advocacy organizations
1-866-466-8900 (Spanish, Chinese)
1-866-499-0858 (TTY)
www.opa.ca.gov
CalPers Online Health Plan Chooser
Website to help California public employees
compare California health plan costs, doctors, hospitals and benefits
1-888-225-7377 (many languages)
1-916-795-3240 (TTY)
www.calpers.ca.gov
Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping
Health Insurance in California
Information on insurance, including low-cost health care
www.healthinsuranceinfo.net
Health Choices
Information on choosing a health plan
www.healthchoices.org
Health Coverage Guide
Information on
California health insurance for small businesses, including cost estimates, tax savings and legal rights
www.healthcoverageguide.org
Health Rights Hotline
Information on choosing a health plan or medical group, understanding your benefits, and finding other health care resources
www.hrh.org/cag.html (Spanish)
Healthscope
Ratings for health plans,
medical groups and hospitals in California
www.healthscope.org
Internal Revenue Service
Form 969, for information on
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts
1-888-829-1040 (many languages)
1-829-4059 (TTY)
www.irs.gov (Spanish)
MRMIP (California Major Risk Medical Insurance Program)
Information on
California's insurance program for people with serious health problems who have
difficulty buying individual health insurance because of their medical history
1-800-289-6574 (many languages)
1-800-735-2929 (TTY)
www.mrmib.ca.gov
National Association of Health Underwriters
Information on
Health Savings Accounts
www.nahu.org/consumer/HSAGuide.cfm
National Committee for Quality Assurance
Information on quality health care and HMO standards
1-888-275-7585
www.ncqa.org
Getting Low-Cost or No-Cost Health Insurance
AIM Program (Access for Infants and Mothers)
Low-cost California health insurance for low-income and middle-income
pregnant women and their newborns
1-800-433-2611 (many languages)
www.aim.ca.gov (Spanish)
California Children's Services (CCS)
A statewide program that treats children with certain disabilities and health problems
www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/cms/ccs/
California Uninsured Help Line
Help finding no-cost and low-cost health care for individuals, families, and small businesses
1-800-234-1317
Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in California
Information on insurance, including low-cost health care
www.healthinsuranceinfo.net
County Health Departments
A list of local county health departments to call about no-cost and low-cost health care services
www.dhs.ca.gov/mcs/medi-calhome/CountyListing1.htm
County Medical Services Program (CMSP)
Health care for low-income adults in 34 California counties
www.cmspcounties.org
Health Consumer
Fact sheets on
low-cost California health care, in many languages
www.healthconsumer.org (many languages)
Healthy Families
State program with low-cost health and dental insurance for children in low-income families
1-800-880-5305 (many languages)
www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov (Spanish)
Medi-Cal
State and federal program with health care for people who qualify because of low or no incomes and/or costly disabilities
1-800-541-5555 (Spanish)
1-916-636-1980 (many languages)
1-866-784-2595 (TTY)
www.medi-cal.ca.gov
These are laws that allow you to keep your health insurance if you lose your job or your hours are reduced.
More information on Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA
More information on HIPAA
MO Help Center
24-hour helpline for California HMO members, with information on Cal-COBRA
1-888-466-2219 (many languages)
1-877-688-9891 (TTY)
www.hmohelp.ca.gov (Spanish, Chinese)
U.S. Department of Labor COBRA
Information on the Federal COBRA program to help you keep group health insurance if you lose your job or your hours are cut
1-866-444-3272 (Spanish, Chinese)
1-877-889-5627
www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm (Spanish)
U.S. Department of Labor HIPAA
Information on your Federal HIPAA rights to buy or keep health insurance
1-866-444-3272 (Spanish, Chinese)
1-877-889-5627 (TTY)
www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/portability.htm (Spanish)
Disabilities
AT Network
Information on equipment and assistive technology
1-800-390-2699 (Spanish)
1-800-900-0706 (TTY)
www.atnet.org (Spanish)
California AIDS Hotline
Information on HIV/AIDS services
1-800-367-2437 (Spanish)
1-888-225-2437 (TTY)
www.aidshotline.org (Spanish)
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
Resources for people with disabilities
1-916-325-1690 (many languages)
1-916-325-1695 (TTY)
www.cfilc.org
Californians for Disability Rights
Member organization representing people with disabilities (Click on "Chapters" to see resources in your area.)
www.disabilityrights-cdr.org
CalMedicare
Information on Medicare in California, Medicare Part D and other prescription drug programs, and financial aid for Medicare members
1-888-430-2423 (Spanish) (publications only)
www.calmedicare.org (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese)
Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency
Resources for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
1-877-322-7299
1-877-322-7288 (TTY)
www.dcara.org
Disability Rights Advocates
Information on the health care rights of people with disabilities
www.dralegal.org
Disability Rights Legal Center
Legal aid and referrals for people with disabilities, including a Cancer Legal Resource Center, a Learning Rights Project, and other resources
www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
A national law and policy center to help people with disabilities
www.dredf.org
Family Voices
Health care advocacy for children with disabilities
1-888-835-5669
www.familyvoices.org (Spanish)
Protection " Advocacy
Legal information and assistance for people with disabilities
1-800-776-5746 (many languages)
www.pai-ca.org
Medi-Cal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Federal government agency with information on Medi-Cal (California's name for Medicaid)
1-800-267-2323
1-866-266-1819
http://cms.hhs.gov
Health Care Options
Help with enrolling in or leaving a Medi-Cal health plan
1-800-430-4263 (many languages)
1-800-430-7077 (TTY)
Medi-Cal
State and federal program with health care for people who qualify because of low or no incomes and/or costly disabilities
1-800-541-5555 (Spanish)
1-916-636-1980 (many languages)
1-866-784-2595 (TTY)
www.medi-cal.ca.gov
Medi-Cal Fair Hearing
File an appeal if your health plan denies you the services you need
1-800-952-5253 (Spanish)
Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman
Help if you have a problem you cannot solve with your health plan
1-888-452-8609 (many languages)
Medi-Cal Mental Health Care Ombudsman
Help with Medi-Cal mental health care services
1-800-896-4042 (many languages)
Aging/Medicare
California's HMO Guide for Seniors
Information on HMOs for Medicare members
1-800-466-8900 (Spanish, Chinese)
1-866-499-0858 (TDD)
www.opa.ca.gov
California Registry
Information on hospice and long-term care
1-800-777-7575
www.calregistry.com
CalMedicare
Information on Medicare in California, Medicare Part D and other prescription drug programs, and financial aid for low-income seniors
1-888-430-2423 (Spanish) (publications only)
www.calmedicare.org (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese)
Family Caregiver Alliance
Information and help for family caregivers
1-800-445-8106 (Spanish)
www.caregiver.org (Spanish, Chinese)
HICAP (California Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program)
Free information, counseling, and advocacy for people who have or will soon have Medicare
1-800-434-0222 (many languages)
www.calmedicare.org
Lumetra (California Medical Review)
Help for Medicare members with complaints about quality of care concern, delays in receiving care, or being sent home from the hospital to soon
1-800-841-1602 (Spanish)
1-800-881-5980 (TTY)
www.lumetra.com
Medicare
The official Medicare website and phone number
1-800-MEDICARE (Spanish)
1-877-486-2048 (TTY)
www.medicare.gov (Spanish)
National Institute on Aging
Information for seniors about aging, staying healthy, and getting health care
1-800-222-2225 (Spanish)
1-800-222-4225 (TTY)
www.nia.nih.gov
National Senior Citizens Law Center
Advocacy for the independence and well-being of seniors with low incomes
www.nsclc.org
Senior Information and Referral
Information about local services for seniors, including health care, legal aid, housing, employment, home health care, and companionship
1-800-510-2020 (Spanish)
1-800-735-2929 (TTY)
www.aging.ca.gov
California Network of Mental Health Clients
A peer-run advocacy organization for
mental health consumers
1-800-626-7447
www.californiaclients.org
California Office of Patients' Rights
Advocacy for patients hospitalized with mental illness
1-916-575-1610
Medi-Cal Mental Heath Care Ombudsman
Information and help with Medi-Cal mental health care services
1-800-896-4042 (Spanish)
1-800-896-2512 (TTY)
www.dmh.cahwnet.gov/SpecialPrograms/ombud.asp (Spanish)
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
An advocacy group for people with mental illness and their families
1-800-950-6264 (Spanish)
www.nami.org (Spanish)
National Institute of Mental Health
Information and research on mental health treatments
1-866-615-6464 (Spanish)
www.nimh.nih.gov
National Mental Health Association
Information, advocacy, and referrals for adults and children
1-800-969-6642 (Spanish)
1-800-433-5959 (TTY)
www.nmha.org
Diseases and Treatments—General Information
American College of Surgeons
Information on common operations and choosing a surgeon
1-312-202-5000
www.facs.org
Advance Directives
Information on Advance Health Care Directives
1-800-952-5225 (Spanish)
1-800-952-5548 (TTY)
http://caag.state.ca.us/consumers/general/adv_hc_dir.htm
Agency for Health Research and Quality
Government agency with tips for getting good health care and Personal Health Guides for routine care (order or view the brochure, Next Steps After Your Diagnosis at www.ahrq.gov/consumer/diaginfo.htm)
1-800-358-9295 (publications only)
www.ahrq.gov (Spanish)
California Health Decisions
Tips for using
California health care services
www.cahd.org (Spanish)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Information on immunizations, preventing diseases, health disasters, and other issues
1-800-232-4636 (Spanish)
1-888-232-6548 (TTY)
www.cdc.gov (Spanish)
Clinical Trials
Information on clinical trials
www.clinicaltrials.gov
Food and Drug Administration
Information on medicines and durable medical equipment
1-888-463-6332
www.fda.gov (Spanish)
Healthfinder
Health information from many federal agencies
www.healthfinder.gov (Spanish)
Health Information Index
Information on many diseases and health-related conditions
www.health.nih.gov (Spanish)
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Information on health care standards
www.jcaho.org
Kids Health
Information on children's health
www.kidshealth.org (Spanish)
Lab Tests Online
Information about lab tests
www.labtestsonline.org
Mayo Clinic Health Oasis
Easy-to-understand information on health topics
www.mayohealth.org
Medline Plus
Information on many health topics
www.medlineplus.org (Spanish)
National Guideline Clearinghouse
Government agency with care guidelines for many health conditions
www.guideline.gov
National Hispanic Prenatal Helpline
Información sobre el embarazo, parto, y el cuidado de los infants
Information about pregnancy, birth, and child care
1-800-504-7081 (Spanish)
www.hispanichealth.org (Spanish)
National Immunization Hotline
A guide to vaccines for children and adults
1-800-232-2522 (Spanish)
1-888-232-6348 (TTY)
http://www.cdc.gov/nip (Spanish)
National Institute of Health
Government agency with information on many health issues, including new treatments for diseases
www.nih.gov
National Library of Medicine
Prescription drug information; directories of physicians, hospitals, and other medical providers
www.medlineplus.gov (Spanish)
Diseases and Treatments—Specific Information
Alzheimer's Association
Local services, support groups, 24-hour helpline, and information for caregivers
1-800-272-3900 (many languages)
1-866-403-3073 (TTY)
www.alz.org
American Diabetes Association
Information, programs, and services for people with diabetes
1-800-DIABETES (Spanish)
www.diabetes.org (Spanish)
Arthritis
Information about arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases
1-877-226-4267 (Spanish)
www.niams.nih.gov (Spanish)
California AIDS Hotline
Information on HIV/AIDS services
1-800-367-2437 (Spanish)
1-888-225-2437 (TTY)
www.aidshotline.org (Spanish)
California Dental Association
Information about oral health and an online search to find a dentist or a dental clinic that provides free or low-cost dental services
1-800-CDA-SMILE
www.cda.org
California Smoker's Helpline
Telephone and online help to stop smoking
1-800-662-8887 (many languages)
1-800-933-4833 (TTY)
www.californiasmokershelpline.org
Cancer Information
Government agency with information on cancer treatments
1-800-422-6237 (Spanish)
www.cancer.gov (Spanish)
Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders
Health information, research, clinical trials, and personal stories
www.niddk.nih.gov (Spanish)
Drug Abuse
Information for health professionals, parents, teachers, students, and young adults
www.nida.nih.gov (Spanish)
Heart Diseases
Information, research, and clinical trials
www.nhlbi.nih.gov (Spanish)
Obesity and Overweight
Information on obesity and chart to check Body Mass Index (BMI)
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm
Osteoporosis
Information and research on osteoporosis and other bone diseases
1-800-624-2663 (Spanish)
www.osteo.org
Stroke
Information, research, news, and events related to stroke and neurological disorders
1-800-352-9424
www.ninds.nih.gov
Agencies that Oversee and License Providers
American Board of Medical Specialties
Information about specialists' training
1-866-275-2267
www.abms.org
Board of Behavioral Sciences
Licenses and takes complaints on Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, Associate Clinical Social Workers, and Educational Psychologists; online license check
1-916-574-7830
www.bbs.ca.gov
Board of Pharmacy
Licenses and takes complaints on pharmacists; information for consumers, including ways to save money on drugs
1-916-574-7915 (8 am-12 noon)
1-916-574-7909 (12:30-4:30 pm)
www.pharmacy.ca.gov (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese)
Board of Podiatric Medicine
Licenses and takes complaints on podiatrists; online license check and information for consumers
1-916-263-2647
www.bpm.ca.gov/consgde (Spanish)
Board of Psychology
Licenses and takes complaints on psychologists; consumer information and online license check
1-916-263-2699
www.psychboard.ca.gov (Spanish)
Board of Registered Nursing
Licenses and takes complaints on registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, and psychiatric/mental health nurses; online license check
1-916-322-3350
1-916-322-1700 (TTY)
www.rn.ca.gov
Dental Board of California
Licenses and takes complaints on dentists; online license check
1-916-263-2300
www.dbc.ca.gov
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Clinics
Licenses and takes complaints on hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics
1-916-552-8700
1-800-236-9747
www.dhs.ca.gov/Inc/default.htm
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Accredits and takes complaints on health care organizations; information on health care standards
1-800-994-6610 (for complaints and concerns)
www.jcaho.org
Medical Board of California
Licenses and takes complaints on medical doctors and certain other providers; online check of licenses and citations
1-800-633-2322
1-916-263-0935 (TTY)
www.medbd.ca.gov
Physical Therapy Board of California
Licenses and takes complaints on physical therapists; online license check
1-800-832-2251
www.ptb.ca.gov
Health Care News and Advocacy
California Health Care Foundation
Research and news on health care systems and costs
www.chcf.org
California Healthline
A free, daily Internet news summary on health care policy and politics
www.californiahealthline.org
California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative
Health, benefits and rights information for immigrants
1-916-448-6762 (Spanish)
www.caimmigrant.org
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
Advocacy for health care for people from all cultural and linguistic groups
www.cpehn.org
Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
Advocacy for better health care for Latinos in California
www.lchc.org
Su Familia
Information and referrals in Spanish to local health clinics
1-866-783-2645 (Spanish)
www.hispanichealth.org (Spanish)
Health Care Industry Related Financial Information
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The NAIC assists state insurance regulators, individually and collectively, in serving the public interest and achieving insurance regulatory goals in a responsive, efficient and cost effective manner.
http://www.naic.org/
Securities and Exchange Commission
The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.
http://www.sec.gov/
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The mission for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is to assure health care security for beneficiaries.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/
New York State Department of Insurance
The Insurance Department is responsible for supervising and regulating all insurance business in New York State.
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/
Texas Department of Insurance The Texas Department of Insurance regulates licenses the Texas insurance industry including healthcare.
http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/
California Department of Insurance (CDI)
Information on
health insurance plans in California (CDI licenses and regulates some non-HMO health and disability insurance and most Medigap plans.)
1-800-927-4357 (many languages)
1-800-482-4833 (TTY)
www.insurance.ca.gov (Spanish)
UNDERSTAND