Press Release
| Embargoed Until | Contact | |
| April 17, 2013 | Sue Ducat |
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From Health Affairs
In Massachusetts, Some Low-Income Families Reported A Financial Burden in Paying for Health Insurance |
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Bethesda, MD -- In six months, open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplaces will begin around the country. Massachusetts' experience has proven to be instructive. In 2006, the state created an insurance exchange, called the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority. The Connector, which began offering unsubsidized commercial insurance products in 2007, now provides an array of options for consumers, including subsidized coverage to people with incomes below 300 percent of the poverty level.
A new study, being released today as a Web First by Health Affairs, surveyed 393 families in unsubsidized Connector plans. It found that 38 percent of surveyed families reported financial burden associated with their health care and 45 percent reported higher-than-expected out-of-pocket costs. This study is one of the first to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for financial burden and unexpected costs among families in unsubsidized health insurance exchange plans.
To obtain their data, the authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of families enrolled through the Massachusetts Connector in unsubsidized Commonwealth Choice plans from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a large nonprofit insurer that has one of the largest market shares among commercial carriers in the Connector. Between April and October 2010 the authors conducted a survey by mail then followed up by phone, studying families both with and without children.
Although exchanges may expand access to coverage, "those with lower incomes, increased health care needs, and more children will be at particular risk after they obtain coverage through exchanges in 2014," the authors conclude. "Given the complexity of health insurance choices and consumers' limited understanding of health insurance benefits, policy makers need to reach out and simplify information to promote optimal plan choices for the people." |
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| About Health Affairs | ||
Health Affairs is the leading journal at the intersection of health, health care, and policy. Published by Project HOPE, the peer-reviewed journal appears each month in print, with additional Web First papers published periodically and health policy briefs published twice monthly at www.healthaffairs.org. You can also find the journal on Facebook and Twitter. Read daily perspectives on Health Affairs Blog. Download weekly Narrative Matters podcasts on iTunes.
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