Your Family

The number of companies offering discount card programs for health care and prescription drugs has increased dramatically in Kansas, and so have the scams that accompany them.

Tips to help you shop smartly for medical discount cards

• Medical discount cards are not health insurance. By law, such cards sold in Kansas must say so in prominent type on both the card and the advertisements.
• Shop around. The cost of a discount card membership could range from $0 - $100 depending on the company, even though they offer similar services. Also beware of additional charges like administrative fees.
• Your savings may not be significant. You may find, in some cases, that if you add up the cost of the card including any fees that your actual "savings" are wiped out. Try to find out where you spend your health care dollars and what the card would save you.
• Be wary of paying large sums in advance for a discount card. The fees for most discount cards are usually fairly low. Always check the refund policy.
• Ask your doctor, local hospital, pharmacy and other providers if they accept the card before you sign up.
• Watch out for any claims that suggest a discount card is sponsored by a government agency, or a well-known organization. Some cards use names or "seals of approval" that closely resemble organizations, but are actually run by for-profit businesses.
• Carefully read all materials, especially the fine print. Ask the supplier to mail you information about the product. A reputable discount card company will give you time to review the information and call back later if you decide to enroll.
• Kansas law requires discount card suppliers to provide the customer a 30-day right to cancel and mail the written list of providers with seven calendar days of the transaction. They are also required to maintain a surety bond with the Secretary of State's office. This can be verified by calling the Secretary of State's office at (785) 296-4564.

Sometimes, we all need help. One of the ways to establish a formal arrangement for another person to help with certain aspects of your life is through a Power of Attorney.

Granting a Power of Attorney is an important decision. A Power of Attorney can give another person power over your affairs, from relatively simple matters such as paying your bills to intensely personal and complicated matters such as your health care decisions.

It's critical to get good legal advice before signing a Power of Attorney. Download our Power of Attorney brochure to learn more about some of the basic terms involved as well as tips for your to consider. This information is not a substitute for personal legal advice from a competent attorney.

To get legal assistance, contact the following:

Kansas Elder Law Hotline
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(888) 35-ELDER or (888) 353-5337

Kansas Legal Services - Central Intake
(800) 723-6953

The Kansas Attorney General supports our military men and women and their families through consumer protection efforts. The Kansas Consumer Protection Act provides extra protection for members of the armed forces and National Guard on active duty, or in active reserve units, and family members of deployed service personnel.

Please browse the following resources for members of the military and their families:

• Power of Attorney
• Protect your identity while deployed with an Active Duty Alert
• Information for servicemembers - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Military Consumers - Federal Trade Commission
• Military ID Theft (pdf)
• Payday Loans and Cash Advances (pdf)