About Us
Health Advocates of Orange County, Inc. is a health care advocacy firm that helps individuals and families work through difficult medical and health insurance issues.
We cannot and do not recommend medical care, nor do we provide hands-on care. Rather, we provide the support and information you need to work collaboratively with your healthcare team by acting as your educator, navigator, coordinator and advocate for all things health- and health insurance-related. As personal consultants, we can follow you through all care settings and for as long as needed, providing the support necessary for safe, effective – and reimbursed - care.
Our goal is to help you understand and navigate the complex healthcare and health insurance systems so that you can get the care that is right for you, fully utilize your insurance benefits and, most importantly, get the best possible health outcome.
We assist in four main areas:
Understanding Medical Issues
We assist in formulating good questions for your doctors and help you understand the answers.
We accompany you to doctor visits, to help make the best use of limited appointment times.
We help you fully understand your health conditions and the likely risks and benefits of various treatment options, enabling you to make the best possible decisions.
We research the medical literature and other expert sources to find the latest thinking on conditions and treatments and to identify standards of care.
We help to identify regional and national medical experts.
Identifying & Coordinating Resources
Because using a high quality facility can have a significant impact on the outcomes of your care, we help you find and evaluate information on the quality of hospitals and nursing homes.
We identify medical centers that are designated as “Centers of Excellence” in specific areas or have other designations that signify a particular expertise.
For rare or serious illnesses, participation in a clinical trial may be advantageous; we help you find relevant clinical trials, learn what participation would entail and point out the pros and cons.
For chronic conditions, we support patients and caregivers by identifying community resources and helping to coordinate care across the multiple providers involved.
Assisting With Senior Care
For seniors in Orange County who live far from their children or other family members, we monitor their condition, coordinate their care and keep family members informed.
We accompany seniors to medical appointments to facilitate the dialogue – that is, to make sure the doctors understand what’s been happening and that the client fully understands the discussion and recommendations.
We coordinate the entire health care team, keeping all specialists apprised of what the others are doing.
We watch for potential safety issues: medication side effects, fall hazards, nutritional changes, etc.
We facilitate choice of an independent or assisted living situation or a skilled nursing facility by evaluating various facilities, advising on questions to ask or features to look for and reviewing available data on the quality of facilities.
Using Health Insurance
When there are disputes with the health plan regarding payment, we work with you to make the case for coverage and, with your permission, interact with the plan on your behalf.
When appropriate, we help you file formal appeals and grievances with the health plan and, if necessary, the relevant state government entity.
We help you fully understand the “fine print” requirements of your health plan so that you get the most coverage possible.
We review medical bills to ensure there are no excessive, inappropriate or duplicative charges, and monitor insurance payments for accuracy.
We help you compare health plans at open enrollment or when purchasing individual policies, reviewing the restrictions, exclusions, and services covered and costs and advising on the best policy for your particular situation.
 
In addition to her extensive experience, Maggie has done additional training specific to health care advocacy. She has completed the Healthcare Liaison, Inc. Credentialing Program and has become an Affiliate of Healthcare Liaison. Healthcare Liaison, Inc., of Berkeley, CA, is one of the nation’s premier health care advocacy firms and its credentialing program is among the first in the country. As an Affiliate, she has access to a network of advocates for specialized expertise, consultation and continuing education. Learn more about Healthcare Liaison, Inc. at www.healthcareliaison.com.
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