Health care advocacy group sees spike in requests for insurance help

Consumers for Affordable Health Care, the state’s largest health care consumer advocacy group, saw a large increase in 2011 in people seeking assistance with health insurance questions and issues.

Not only did HelpLine staff receive more than 2,300 phone calls, a 4 percent increase from 2010, but there was an 8 percent increase of all incoming and outgoing calls — 5,305 total — that were needed to resolve callers’ issues. The increase of outgoing calls can be attributed to the ever-growing complexity of insurance questions throughout the year, according to a recent statement from CAHC.

People can call the statewide, toll-free hot line, 800-965-7476, for assistance in trying to navigate private and public insurance programs. A staff attorney also is available to assist consumers in appealing denied claims.