What Is NAHU's Education Foundation?

The NAHU Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 1992. Our foundation was created to enhance our ability to provide materials to educate the general public about private health insurance and the many options available to consumers whether they are buying coverage on their own or signing on to their employer's plan.

Since 1992, the Foundation has provided a number of important resources, from annual specialty insurance conferences to disaster relief for individuals impacted by September 11. In 1997, we expanded the Foundation structure and vastly increased the resources and projects it oversees.

Our most important goal starting off was to be sure that consumers understood the basics of various kinds of health insurance and related products. We developed guides relating to individual health insurance, employer-sponsored health insurance, long term care insurance, voluntary products offered in an employer setting, etc. and these are housed on the Foundation website at www.nahuef.org. At the same time, we realized that many of the terms used to describe health insurance coverage might be unfamiliar to the average consumer, so we developed a glossary of terms and housed it in the same location.

Second, we realized that many people just don't know where to start in looking for health insurance. Although we always recommend that people start by finding a health insurance agent, we also know that some people looking for coverage might actually be eligible for other programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children's Health Insurance Program. To help people learn what type of coverage they might be eligible for, we developed a searchable database of private and public health insurance all over the country. Recently, we have partnered with the Foundation for Health Coverage Education to enhance the services available to consumers who are looking for health insurance coverage. The new services include not only a searchable database of public and private coverage, but also a printed version of the information and a 24 hour nationwide toll-free number to assist those looking for coverage.

In addition to our web-based resources, we have created printed materials to help consumers understand various aspects of health insurance. Our brochures on health insurance topics include:

√ Turning 65? What You Need to Know About Medicare - This brochure outlines Medicare benefits and answers questions regarding Medicare eligibility and costs. Consumers can also find quick facts, advice on finding an agent who specializes in over-65 coverage and important dates and deadlines.

√ Consumer Guide to Health Insurance - The Consumer Guide to Health Insurance answers many of the common questions asked by consumers. The brochure addresses topics from "What is health insurance?" and "How does health insurance work?" to more pressing questions, such as "Do I really need health insurance? "Why is health insurance expensive" and "What can I do to help reduce costs?"

√ Wellness Programs - This brochure offers facts supporting how health improvement programs in the workplace can benefit both employers and their employees.

To meet the needs of Spanish-speaking individuals, the Foundation also provides Spanish-language materials to explain the need for health insurance.

Our newest project is a series of short videos and printed materials designed to educate consumers about wellness, prevention and the cost of health care. These materials will be promoted and used in a variety of venues from employer settings to frequently accessed media and social networking outlets.

Regardless of the type of resource, distribution and outreach to consumers is an important part the NAHU Education Foundation mission. Recent outreach campaigns have been directed at seniors who are newly eligible for Medicare and those who lost health insurance coverage during the economic downturn.

For those who are interested in topics regarding health insurance and financial policy, the Foundation has sponsored an outstanding series of author interviews through our "Speaking of Books" series. Recordings of all of the interviews are housed on the Foundation website at no cost to listeners, along with links to other recommended books.

Our strategy continues to focus on identifying and promoting messages consistent with our mission and vision. The Foundation serves as a direct source of information for all parties concerned about health care, health insurance, and options for consumers.

Board of Directors

• Board of Directors Listing

Content copyright © 2005-2010 NAHU Education Foundation. All rights reserved.
NAHU Education Foundation · 2000 North 14th Street, Suite 450 · Arlington, VA 22201
703.276.0220 · fax 703.841.7797 · nahuef@nahu.org