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The G.R.E.E.N. Foundation

Know Your Rights – Advocacy

Health Literacy is designed to bridge communication between physicians, healthcare professionals, patients & consumers. Understanding of the healthcare system through health literacy training for the health care workforce is needed. Effective communication is a foundation of high-quality, patient-centered health care. Health literacy, which has been defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions is a key element of effective communication between patients and health professionals.

Research shows that clinicians often use medical jargon during patient encounters. Health care professionals can be “health literate” by presenting information in ways that improve understanding and the ability of people to act on that information. Because health literacy is a cross-cutting issue that affects virtually every aspect of health care delivery, anyone who interacts with patients, their families, communities or populations via oral or written communication should possess basic competency in health literacy principles.

Questions you need to know!

  • What is health literacy?
  • How to obtain medical coverage
  • What to look for in choosing a health plan
  • How to use your health insurance
  • How payments work
  • What is a premium? Deductible? Co-pay means? What are the differences of HMO, EPO, PPO, HSA?
  • What are your covered benefits?
  • Essential Health Benefits what are they?

 

Learn more: www.healthcare.gov/glossary/health-coverage

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the new market work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the Governor and the Legislature. For more information on Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

How can I check the status of my application for a Covered California health insurance plan?

To check the status of your application, log in to your account at www.CoveredCA.com and click the “Summary” button to view your application summary page. On this page, you can view your eligibility and plan enrollment by family member. If you do not see a health insurance plan or program listed with a plan enrollment date, then you still need to pick your health insurance plan.

Need immediate assistance? In Orange County, call 714-756-0027; in Los Angeles County 562-293-3055 and in Northern California 510-277-3123

About the Department of Health Care Services

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) works to preserve and improve the physical and mental health of all Californians. DHCS provides health care services for more than 8.5 million Californians through Medi-Cal, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services and long-term services and supports. Care for of low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors and persons with disabilities. For more information about DHCS, please visit www.dhcs.ca.gov