FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          Contact:
September 19, 2005     Mohit Ghose    
202-778-8494

AHIP Launches National Call Center for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

National toll-free telephone number, 1-800-644-1818, can help victims find answers to their health coverage questions

(Washington, DC) – Victims of Hurricane Katrina who have questions about their health insurance or do not know how to contact their health insurance plans should call toll-free 1-800-644-1818 for assistance.

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and its member companies have established the national toll-free number to help victims of Hurricane Katrina get reconnected with their health insurance plans, regardless of their health insurance carrier or their location. 

“Your health insurance should be the last thing you need to worry about after a natural disaster,” said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP.  “If Hurricane Katrina victims have any questions about their health insurance, they should call 1-800-644-1818 for help.”

The call center is being established because thousands of evacuees may have questions about their health insurance or may not know how to contact their insurers. Many may have lost their insurance cards. Others in the Gulf Coast region may have questions because the provider facilities to which they usually go for care are no longer operable.

Staffed by live operators 24 hours a day, the toll-free call center connects those whose lives have been disrupted by Katrina to their health insurance plans, regardless of the carrier.

Callers will talk with live call center professionals who will help locate a caller’s insurer and will stay on the line until a customer service specialist at the caller’s health insurance plan is reached. Callers who may be uncertain about the names of their health insurance plans will talk with specialists who will try to help callers determine the identity of their health insurance plans.

To make Katrina victims aware of the help that is available through a single toll-free call, AHIP is launching a media outreach effort that includes full-page ads in national and regional newspapers.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the community of health insurance plans has worked behind the scenes to assist in the relief effort.  Health insurance plans and their employees have made substantial financial donations to charities, deployed medical personnel to the region and continue to work with public health and regulatory agencies to facilitate the health care needs of displaced individuals. 

AHIP and its member companies also created a Web site, www.ahip.org/HurricaneResponse, which details a listing of news updates and services being provided by AHIP member plans for their customers. 

Link to ad:  http://www.ahip.org/redirect/katrinadpdf.pdf


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