If one thing is clear about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it's the following: People are confused about the exchanges and what they're all about.
According to a number of polls compiled by the Texas Association of Health Underwriters, there's a general sense of unfamiliarity with the ACA. For example, in a September poll published in the Journal of Health Economics, just 14 percent said they could define the specific "essential health benefits" that health policies are required to have. Additionally, a survey performed by Gallup in June found that if consumers don't already have employee benefits, they have to purchase a health policy through their state-based insurance marketplace, which opened for enrollment on Oct. 1.
"Health insurance is a complex and sometimes overwhelming topic," said Mark Bellman, president of the TAHU. "Many will face coverage options for the first time without fully understanding and weighing the impact of their decisions. If someone is not sure about the best choice for themselves, their families or businesses, they should seek the advice of a professional."
Much of their confusion may have something to do with not having the information necessary in order to be more knowledgeable. TAHU pointed out that the Kaiser Family Foundation performed a poll this past August, which found that 51 percent of respondents reported not being equipped with the proper details about the ACA and how it would impact them health wise and financially.
In a separate analysis also performed by Kaiser, a majority of Californians who are eligible to for subsidies through the state's marketplace aren't aware of it, according to a new panel survey of 2,000 uninsured randomly selected individuals who originate from the Golden State.
