HMO Guide for Seniors - Office of the Patient Advocate - State of ...

What HMO members have
to say about the original
California’s HMO Guide:
The University of California, Berkeley
Office of the Patient Advocate
“This gives you a
license to say, I am in
charge of my health and
when I ask questions
I need answers.”
“I was amazed at how
much information is
in here that you can
utilize right now.”
“I don’t feel lost
anymore. In the past I
have felt intimidated,
but now have learned
to ask questions.”
California’s HMO Guide for Seniors is a
tool to help you use your Medicare HMO.
This guide has answers to many common
questions. It does not offer legal advice, but
it will tell you about your rights. It will tell
you some places you can go to find more
help and to learn more about your rights.
When you use this guide, remember that
each Medicare HMO is different. Call your
HMO to learn more about its rules and the
care it offers.
California’s HMO Guide for Seniors is
produced by the University of California,
Berkeley, in collaboration with the
California Office of the Patient Advocate
and communities throughout California.
To order a free copy of
California’s HMO Guide
for Seniors in English or
Spanish or for information
on alternative formats, call:
1-888-466-2219
TTY 1-877-688-9891
© 2010 by The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Second edition. No part of this publication can
be reproduced, published, adapted, distributed, or transmitted in any form by any means (including electronic, microcopying,
photocopying, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Legal Disclaimer This guide contains general information only and is not a substitute for the advice of health care
professionals, consumer advocates, legal advisors, or qualified health plan representatives. Neither The Regents of
the University of California nor the Office of the Patient Advocate represent or warrant that the contents of this
guide are complete or without error. Frequent changes in managed health care or in legal protections for consumers
may cause the guide to become outdated, obsolete, inaccurate and/or incorrect. In no event will The Regents of The
University of California, the Office of the Patient Advocate, or any individual or entity involved in the production
of this publication be liable to any party for any direct, special or other consequential damages resulting, directly or
indirectly, from any use of this guide or of any website or phone number contained in this guide. Please consult
with a qualified representative from your health plan for specific information about your health plan.
Cover photo credits: © Fotosearch/Digital Vision; © Creatas; © GettyImages/
Photodisc; © Mark Tantrum. Back cover: © Doug Menuez/GettyImages;
© Keith Brofsky/GettyImages; © GettyImages/Digital Vision