Assignment Task:
Information
Federal and state governments have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to website through which consumers can purchase healthcare insurance in the open market. The federal government operates healthcare.gov. Some states have opted not to utilize the federal government's exchange and approach it on their own. Both state and federal exchanges continue to have variation in costs in overall programs and direct costs to consumers (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2019).
With all the money spent to create these healthcare exchanges, the question remains: Do they really work?
Prepare
Browse at least two state health insurance exchange websites in the Resources.
Consider that states are supposed to make these websites user-friendly and appropriate for a person who reads at the eighth-grade level (the typical U.S. public health standard). Reflect on your own experiences in accessing the state exchanges. It may also be helpful to get some additional feedback from friends or family members (not in the healthcare business) to ascertain their impressions of the websites you are evaluating. Consider the following:
The average American's healthcare literacy: Can they comprehend what they are reading on these sites to make an informed choice?
What are your impressions? Is the site user-friendly? Is it easily accessible?
What about support for people with disabilities?
Use these Resources:
- Wilensky, S. E., & Teitelbaum, J. B. (2023). Essentials of health policy and law (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Chapter 8, "Understanding Health Insurance" (pp. 155-173)
- Chapter 9, "Health Economics in a Health Policy Context" (pp. 175-189)
- Chapter 10, "Government Health Insurance Programs: Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare" (pp. 191-236)
- Covered California
- Healthcare dot gov. (n.d.). The marketplace in your state
- KFF dot org. (n.d.). Health insurance marketplaces
- Pestaina, K., Cox, C., & Wallace, R. (2023, October 30). Signing up for marketplace coverage remains a challenge for many consumers
- U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2019, January 28). Health insurance exchanges: Claims costs and federal and state policies drove issuer participation, premiums, and plan design
Include the following:
1. Explain any policy ramifications for health insurance exchanges going forward. Are state health insurance exchanges still a good idea? Why or why not?
2. Compare and contrast at least two health insurance websites from various states. Note: Be sure to include the citations for these websites.
3. Explain how these websites are or are not user-friendly and appropriate for the public health standard and why. Need Assignment Help?
4. Explain how these websites could be improved to help users select the best insurance options for them.