A few days into the sign-up period for the health exchanges – the marketplaces that people who don't have employee benefits use to find an affordable coverage policy – it appears as though there is a gaping disparity in how prepared states are to effectively provide services for those seeking health plans, a new report reveals.
Managed care market intelligence firm HealthLeader-InterStudy released the results of their updated analysis regarding how ready the exchanges were to deal with coverage requests among individuals who are uninsured. Similar to the previous report, they found a wide disparity in readiness. For instance, in states like Arizona, preparation improved. However, in Missouri and Wyoming, scores dropped.
Interestingly, there was a link between premiums and performance. HealthLeader-InterStudy found that in states where average premiums came in lower than expected, scores improved. But where they were elevated, grades fell, dropping to "F" for some.
"Open enrollment through the exchanges is like airplanes taking off while under construction, even among the most successful states," said William Melville, market analyst for HealthLeader-InterStudy. "The situation is very fluid. Wisconsin, Florida and Texas are dealing with new roadblocks for enrolling the uninsured, while the recently released premium rates gave exchanges in states like Tennessee and Oklahoma an unexpected boost."
Many polls have indicated that the insurance exchanges are confusing for individuals who aren't familiar with purchasing coverage. In an attempt to clarify the process, Consumer Reports recently released a web-based tool that it says offers "personalized guidance" to assist consumers with the enrollment process and how they will be impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
"Now is the time for consumers to act and we are dedicated to helping them understand the nuances of the law and take advantage of its benefits," said DeAnn Friedholm, director of health reform at the advocacy division of Consumer Reports.
