Why it is crucial for patients to file a complaint when they aren’t getting the care they need

My Patient Rights | Stay Informed | Why it is crucial for patients to file a complaint when they aren’t getting the care they need

Why it is crucial for patients to file a complaint when they aren’t getting the care they need

Over the past year, the California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) has collected stories from patients and their care teams about being denied access to specialists, important procedures or needed prescription medicines. We have heard stories of long-term delays patients face when trying to access medicines or treatments. This type of dissatisfaction often goes unrecorded and untold. Patients do not know that these delays and denials are extremely important to report.

The CCCC launched this website as a resource for Californians who have been denied coverage, experienced delays, or are dissatisfied with the decisions made by their health plan. Our goal is to make it easier for patients to reach the right state government agency to obtain information quickly, file a complaint if necessary, and get the answers they need.

Navigating today’s health care system is complicated enough without having to figure out how to file a complaint and ensure your voice is heard. Some complaints filed to major health insurance companies will go weeks or months without a response and take even longer to reach a resolution.

By channeling patients’ complaints through the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and Department of Insurance (DOI), we have the opportunity to enlighten the right people about the patterns of issues, delays, problems and denials patients are facing through California’s current health care system. The DMHC and DOI are the agencies that will motivate needed changes in the health plans and ultimately ensure affordable access to quality coverage.

Through helping patients file a complaint with the DMHC or DOI and contact their health plan, we have the opportunity to change a system that is failing so many patients. The CCCC hopes to improve consumer education and increase the accessibility, affordability and quality of health care that all Californians deserve.

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