Truth in Labeling: Transparency and Health Insurance

May 8, 2009, 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Health insurance policies are complex and consumers cannot always obtain key information about how coverage works. And with many health insurance policies, consumers may face financial risks they do not anticipate.

As policymakers consider national health reform proposals designed to improve the health insurance market for individuals and small businesses, one key question is likely to be how to ensure transparency of information on health insurance policy designs, and consumers' potential financial exposure.

Karen Pollitz, a nationally recognized health insurance expert, has recently compared the adequacy and transparency of health insurance policies in California and Massachusetts. A summary of this research will be released at this event. Her work not only highlights the risks that consumers unknowingly assume today, but also provides lessons for policymakers who seek to build a functioning health insurance marketplace.