Standardizing Medicare Private Health Plans' Benefits Will Allow Informed Consumer Choices

I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THIS ONE...EVERYBODY IS A CONSUMER AND IT IS SO VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND A HEALTH PLAN TODAY...HOW MUCH CAN ONE READ AND COMPARE BEFORE THEY ARE TOTALLY MESMERIZED...IT'S LIKE WALKING IN TO A STORE WITH TOO MANY CHOICES, YOU LEAVE AND BUY NOTHING...Maybe the insurance folks might think about this too....might help the marketing efforts...BD

Congress must require that the dizzying array of benefit packages available through Medicare private health plans be standardized, to help Americans with Medicare make informed decisions about choosing a health plan and to protect them from unexpected, high out-of-pocket costs, according to the California Health Advocates and Medicare Rights Center in a new report.

The California Health Advocates and Medicare Rights Center recommend that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners establish an expert panel including state insurance regulators, consumer representatives and representatives from both the plans and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop model regulations. The development of standard benefit packages should seek to accomplish these goals:

Standardizing Medicare Private Health Plans' Benefits Will Allow Informed Consumer Choices, Consumer Groups Report, USA