HealthAllies.Com
(http://www.healthallies.com)
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Overview: Founded a little more than a year ago, HealthAllies is an effort to use the Internet as a middleman of sorts to help consumers find physicians and hospitals for medical services that aren't covered by health insurance or are only partially covered. Examples of such services are laser eye surgery, infertility treatments, cosmetic surgery and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and massage. The site promises to help consumers save "10% to 50% off of standard charges" for doctors' visits or hospital services.
What works: The concept behind HealthAllies is appealing and timely. Consumerism is all the rage in health care these days, and this site taps into that trend. The site is not your typical doctor-finder service. It does not require doctors or hospitals to pay a fee in order to be listed. And it won't accept payments from providers who want special placement or an exclusive listing, explains Dr. Michael Sherman, a HealthAllies vice president. The site promises to give the little guy access to the type of discounted fees that giant health plans are able to negotiate with doctors and hospitals. "We work alongside or in place of your insurance to get you access to the best medical care at the best rates," says the Web site. Beyond that, the site offers some extras: basic information on illnesses such as heart disease, news articles on medical subjects and resource lists, such as phone numbers, addresses and Web sites for government health agencies. When checking out a physician, the site provides additional information about the doctors' backgrounds and credentials. It also offers assistance helping you schedule doctor appointments or evaluating your medical bills for overcharges or other problems.
