Protections needed for disaster victims.(View point: THE CONSUMERS UNION PERSPECTIVE)

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina revealed significant shortcomings in our country's ability to deal effectively with a national disaster. The obvious and immediate needs were for the basics of life: food, water, and shelter. Now the focus must be on restarting the systems of daily living. To rebuild their lives, hurricane victims must have accessible and affordable health care, protection from unfair financial practices, and effective communications services.

While some steps have been taken, more can and should be done by the government and private sector to assist those affected by this and future disasters.

Health care. States' Medicaid programs should be temporarily opened to victims whose incomes are below the federal poverty level--$9,570 for an individual and $19,350 for a family of four--for five months. That helps states that have taken in relocated victims by shifting the extra health-care costs to the federal government, and it helps evacuees by suspending most of the paperwork needed for enrollment.

Private health-insurance plans should also be flexible. The government is helping victims keep their insurance by extending the time allowed to find a new policy without losing coverage for pre-existing conditions and by extending the time to apply and pay for interim COBRA insurance. CU applauds this move.

The pharmaceutical industry should do its part by expanding existing low-income assistance programs to serve those in affected areas.

Financial matters. Some creditors have announced programs that allow Katrina victims to delay a payment without penalty, but lenders aren't required to provide that relief to borrowers, and the burden may be on consumers to ask for a change in their payment schedule. Most lender programs aren't guaranteed ...