HHS provides access to vital insurance information
For several years, it has been difficult for individuals and families to obtain information from the federal government concerning the cost of health insurance. For some companies, information pertaining to how they price insurance policies is a tightly held secret. With health care reform on the mind of many consumers, however, the demand for this information has become too big to ignore. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it will be releasing a large amount of federal insurance data that can be found at Healthcare.gov.
Initiative aimed to assist consumers in making informed decisions
Deputy Secretary of the HSS Bill Corr made the announcement this week, citing the need amongst consumers for access to insurance data. The information will be available to anyone and can be used to compare the costs and benefits associated with thousands upon thousands of health insurance plans. Corr notes that insurance companies will no longer have the ability to hide behind the language used to describe their policies as information concerning their policies will be laid bare for all to see.
Transparency to be a focus for the HHS
The HHS has future plans to evaluate each health insurance policy based on the quality of benefits they provide to consumers. For now, however, the agency’s efforts will be focused on instilling more transparency in the health insurance industry. With the access to information expanding, consumers are expected to be able to make informed decisions concerning their health care.
Agency to continue working for the benefit of consumers
Transparency in the insurance industry has been a key issue for the HHS in recent years, due in part to the Affordable Care Act. Though the fate of the health care law is still undecided, the HHS has made an effort to ensure that insurance companies do not hide information from consumers. The agency’s latest initiative is expected to enable consumers to find the health insurance plans that are best suited for their particular situation and needs.