Navigating the Health Care System

The health care system can be confusing. It’s frustrating trying to make sense of hospital bills and EOBs. What can you do if you don’t understand your health care and where can you go for help?

The resources on this page provide excellent information to help guide you through the health care maze. You’ll find checklists to help you make the most of your doctor visits, tips to make your hospital stays safe, guides to help you buy insurance, and more.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has excellent resources on understanding and using health care:

• 20 Tips To Help Prevent Medical Errors
• Your Guide To Choosing Quality Health Care
• Quick Checks for Quality
• Quick Tips—Getting Medical Tests
• Quick Tips—Getting a Prescription
• Quick Tips—Planning for Surgery
• Quick Tips—Talking With Your Doctor

MedlinePlus provides additional information to help you navigate the health care system in Patient Safety.

Kansas Health Online Buying Health Care also has information to help you make decisions about purchasing health care.