Private health coverage plans in California are regulated either by the California Department of Insurance, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), or the United States Departement of Labor.

The California Department of Insurance publishes a Consumer's Guide to Health Insurance.

The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute publishes A Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in California. They also have guides for other states.

The Health Consumer Alliance (HCA) helps low-income people obtain essential health care. HCA's two main priorities are (1) helping consumers establish or maintain health coverage; and (2) ensuring that low-income consumers with health coverage get good access to essential services, including managed care. Consumer Health Centers can be found in Alameda, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Placer, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Yolo counties.

HealthCareCoach.com provides facts and do-it-yourself tips on everything from health insurance to patient care. HealthCareCoach includes topics on women's health, family health, health care costs, and changing health plans.

The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) is a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, elderly, and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves community-based organizations, legal services programs, the private bar, providers, and individuals who work to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured low-income people. NHeLP has expertise in managed care, Medicaid, Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program (EPSDT), safety net programs, consumer protections, and health care rights.

Consumer Coalition for Quality Healthcare provides news and information on State and Federal campaigns, projects for quality improvement, and consumer protection in health care.

Disability Rights Advocates provides a section on the Health Access Project on their website. This website provides an overview of accessible healthcare rights. A handbook titled Through the Maze: A Guide to Health Care and Insurance Rights for People with Disabilities is available to download in English and Spanish.

Families USA is a consumer focused website on health care, Medicaid, Medicare, prescription drugs and health policy analysis.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has a page for helping employers decide among health plans.

U. C. Berkeley's Center for Health and Public Policy provides surveys and research about health care insurance.

The Center for Health Care Strategies works with states, health plans and consumer groups, and provides some funding to promote high quality health care services for low-income populations and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

The California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) was created in 1990 to advise the Governor and Legislature on ways to reduce the number of uninsured persons in California. The Board is comprised of volunteer members appointed by the Governor and Legislature, and meets in public session on the third Wednesday of each month.

MRMIB also administers three California health care programs:

The Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) provides health insurance for Californians who are unable to obtain coverage in the individual health insurance market due to a pre-existing condition. Services in the program are delivered through contracts with 6 health insurance plans. Californians qualifying for the program participate in the payment for the cost of their coverage by paying premiums. The State of California supplements those premiums to cover the full cost of care. MRMIP is funded from tobacco tax funds. For an application, call toll free 1 800-289-6574.

The Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program provides low cost health insurance coverage to uninsured, low-income pregnant women and their infants. AIM is part of California's effort to increase health coverage of pregnant women and their infants. The average subscriber is a married woman, living in a household with a family income between 2 to 3 times the Federal Poverty Level. A pregnant woman and her infant(s) enrolled in AIM receive their care from one of nine health plans participating in the program. The pregnant woman participates in the cost of her health care services through a low cost subscriber contribution. The State of California supplements the subscriber contribution to cover the full cost of care. AIM is funded from tobacco tax funds. For an application call toll free: 1-800-433-2611.

The Healthy Families Program (HFP) provides low cost health, dental, and vision coverage to uninsured children in low wage families. Families participating in the program choose their health, dental and vision plan. Families pay premiums between $4-$9 per child per month (maximum of $27 per family). The State and Federal government provide funding to the HFP. For an application, call toll free: 1 888-747-1222.

The federal government pays benefits planners in communities around the country to help people think ahead about benefits issues. The Social Security Administration (SSA) replaced the Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach Project (BPAO) with the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program in October of 2006.

The new program emphasizes work incentives over work supports for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. Benefits planners who are funded by SSA and trained under this new program are called Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWIC's).

To find a benefits planner near you, use DB101's Benefits Planners Directory.

Various community-based organizations provide staff to work with people concerning a range of options on state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Counseling about benefits, as a community service, is an emerging field of expertise with different levels of services available. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with individuals with any type of disability.

Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity.

Find locations at http://www.goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 800-664-6577.

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists 29 centers serving individuals with all disabilities. Many of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity. Most independent living centers can refer callers to local benefit program information if they do not have these services.

Find the list of independent living centers at http://www.cfilc.org, or by calling (voice) 916-325-1690 or (TTY) 916-325-1695.

The AIDS Hotline database contains 1,300 organizations providing HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations offer case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include assistance with public and private benefits programs.

Find the list of AIDS organizations at http://www.aidshotline.org, or by calling (voice) 800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 888-225-AIDS (2437).

Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (PAI), a federally funded program in all states, provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In Home Supportive Services.