Consumer advocates in Minnesota are concerned that the variety of health insurance options that will be made available to residents through the state's insurance exchange program may ultimately be paralyzing.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, Buddy Robinson, a healthcare activist, expressed this worry to the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force, a concern shared by some of its members.
"Oftentimes when confronted with just myriad choices it becomes overwhelming, and it's a very unhelpful environment from which to pick the best one," said State Senator Tony Lourey during a recent news conference, the paper reports. Lourey is one of 15 members of the task force, which is represented by local legislators as well as various nonprofit and business representatives.
Adding to Lourey's comments, Robinson noted that a large number of health insurance options ultimately doesn't benefit the consumer, but rather makes it more difficult to decide which plan is best.
In 2014, states will be required to offer health insurance exchanges, as directed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. These concerns, however, may suggest that consumers are better off maintaining coverage through their place of work if it offers defined employee benefits.
