The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) launched a new web site that provides
"state-by-state information on health coverage options for those who for whatever reason do not have coverage. "

The database contains information about private and public health insurance coverage, qualification criteria, compare state health care coverage reforms, investigate state and federal health care programs, and contact information for enrollment or more information.

The database is broken up in to four components:

1. Employer-Based Health Insurance Coverage -"Designed for consumers who need more information about what requirements apply to group health insurance coverage, or need to know what their options are if they are about to lose access to their group coverage. It also provides contact information for the state and federal regulators who oversee private group health insurance in America, in case consumers have questions or need to report a problem."
2. Individual Health Insurance Coverage - "Helps consumers understand how individual insurance is regulated in their area, and it also helps explain the state-specific options available to individual consumers who have serious medical conditions that may preclude them from obtaining traditional coverage. Furthermore, this section contains information about the entities that regulate the individual market, so that consumers can contact them if they have questions or concerns. "
3. Assistance for Obtaining Health Coverage - "Provides comprehensive information about all of the major federal and state programs to provide coverage assistance to individuals age 65 and under. It includes specifics and contact information for large-scale programs like Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the federal Health Care Tax Credit Program. In addition, this section contains overviews and contacts for the hundreds of smaller state and federal-level and private programs that provide coverage assistance and services to specific populations. This section may be a particularly helpful resource to people with lower incomes who are either uninsured or under-insured, and to people who are looking for either primary care or preventive assistance or help with a serious medical condition, as many of these programs target those groups."
4. Health Care Coverage Contacts -"Provides consumers with a quick reference list of important health coverage assistance contacts."

In addition there is another section that allows you to focus solely on a specific state, allowing you to see all of the above four information sections unique to that state.

To access the database: www.nahu.org/consumer/healthcare

I see this being particularily useful to public librarians and consumer health librarians. Another user population would be a hospital's patient billing and social workers. Healthcare social workers can help get uninsured patients signed up to Medicare or Medicaid.