HealthCare.gov’s “Search and Compare” Feature

Looking for a health insurance plan? New information about private insurance benefits and pricing is available on HealthCare.gov, the website established in July by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for information about the Affordable Care Act.

“To improve competition and lower costs,” the new tools will make the health insurance market more transparent. For example, for the first time ever, price estimates for private insurance policies are available. These estimates allow individuals to compare prices as they take advantage of “one-stop shopping” for an affordable health insurance plan.

The idea is to put consumers, not their insurance companies, in charge and take the guesswork and confusion out of buying health insurance.

To help individuals make more informed choices, HealthCare.gov includes two notable metrics for the public. Insurance providers are required to post:

• The percentage of people who applied for insurance and were denied coverage.
• The percentage of applicants who were charged higher premiums because of their health status.

“Millions of Americans have logged on to HealthCare.gov’s Insurance Finder to see what health coverage options are available to them,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “The search and compare feature will help Americans find coverage that meets their needs and that gives them value for their dollars now.”

Created under the Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first website of its kind to bring information and links to health insurance plans in one place to make it easy for those searching for a plan to learn about and compare their insurance choices.

For more information and resources, visit www.HealthCare.gov.