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Archive for California
California Health Care Reform
- REPORT: The Evidence Is Clear: Too Many Health Insurance Choices Can Impair, Not Help, Consumer Decision Making (November 2012)
A key question confronting policymakers is whether consumers are better or worse off when provided with as many health insurance choices as possible. Consumers Union reviewed the substantial literature in this area and the evidence is clear.
- CU Comment: Joint comments on CalHEERS IT system SHOP business requirements request for comments (November 2012)
Joint comments from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding CalHEERS SHOP business requirements.
- CU Letter: Joint letter on CalHEERS IT System SHOP Requirements Request for Comments (November 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding CalHEERS SHOP business requirements.
- CU Comment: Joint comments on CalHEERS IT system business requirements request for comments (November 2012)
Joint comments from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding CalHEERS business requirements.
- CU Letter: Joint letter on CalHEERS IT System Business Requirements Request for Comments (November 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding CalHEERS business requirements.
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on QHP standard benefit design (October 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding standard benefit design.
- Reforma del Sistema de Salud: 7 cosas que necesita saber ahora (Septiembre 2012)
La guía gratuita destaca los beneficios y protecciones que brinda ahora La ley de Salud Asequible.
- Health Reform: Seven Things You Need to Know (September 2012)
The free guide outlines the consumer benefits and protections of the Affordable Care Act available now.
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on Draft Qualified Health Plan Request for Proposals (October 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding the draft request for proposals (RFP) for the Qualified Health Plan solicitation
- CU Letter: Employer and Employee Choice in the SHOP (September 2012)
Cu letter commenting on the proposal of the California Health Benefit Exchange regarding employer and employee choice of plan options for the SHOP
- CU Letter: Service Center's Role in Medicaid Assessments (September 2012)
Cu letter commenting on the options that he California Health Benefit Exchange is considering regarding the Service Center’s role in assessing or determining Medicaid eligibility
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on branding and impact on billing and premium payments (September 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and Health Access regarding the recommendation to opt out of premium aggregation and the effect on branding of the Exchange
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on Value-based Insurance Design Options (September 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and Health Access regarding the recommendation to allow value-based insurance design options in Exchange products
- Recommendation for Consumer Protections for Web-based Agent and Brokers Offering Exchange Coverage (September 2012)
Consumers Union recommendations for Exchanges considering allowing web-based agents and brokers offering Exchange coverage.
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on Stakeholder Engagement (September 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding the recommendation for stakeholder engagement
- CU Blog: Let's Thank Obamacare for Making Our Nation Healthier! (September 2012)
September 2012 Blog from California
- CU Blog: California Exchange Moves to Demystify Health Insurance for Consumers (August 2012)
August 2012 Blog from California
- Report: Choice Architecture: Design Decisions that Affect Consumers’ Health Plan Choices (July 2012)
This CU report explores how six health plan chooser tools — ehealthinsurance, CMS plan finder, Massachusetts Connector, Consumers Checkbook/FEHBP, PBGH/CalPERS and User Experience 2014 — use choice architecture to guide consumers’ health plan selections.
- CU Comments: SHOP Employer/Employee Choice and Agent Payments (August 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding employer/employee choice of QHPs and agent payments in the SHOP
- CU Letter: Premium Aggregation Proposal for the California Health Benefit Exchange (August 2012)
Cu letter commenting on the proposal of the California Health Benefit Exchange regarding premium aggregation in the individual market exchange
- CU Letter: Qualified Health Plan Options for California Health Benefit Exchange (August 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding development of a Qualified Health Plan certification, management, and recertification program
- CU Comments: Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Options (June 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding development of the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) Program
- CU Comments: Service Center Options (June 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding options for developing a service center
- CU Letter: Business Plan and Level 1.2 Grant from the California Health Benefit Exchange (June 2012)
CU letter commenting on the proposed business plan and draft Level 1.2 Establishment grant for the California Health Benefit Exchange
- CU Letter: Assister Program Recommendations and Business Plan (June 2012)
CU’s second set of comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding development of an Assister program in California
- CU Comments: Outreach and Education Options (May 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding marketing, outreach and education
- CU Comments: Individual Market Agent Payment Options (May 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding proposals on how to make agent payments in the individual market exchange.
- CU Comments: Statewide Assister Program (May 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding development of an Assister program in California
- Privacy Policy Recommendation Matrix for CalHEERS (April 2012)
Companion matrix to Consumers Union and Center for Democracy and Technology report on privacy recommendations for CalHEERS
- CU Comments: Qualified Health Plan, Benefit Design, and Promoting Delivery System Reform for California Health Benefit Exchange (March 2012)
CU comments in response to solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange regarding plan management, benefit design, and delivery reform
- CU Comments: Initial Comments on Marketing and Outreach Issues for California Health Benefit Exchange (March 2012)
CU comments in response to initial solicitation from California Health Benefit Exchange on marketing and outreach
- CU Letter: Health Plan Management and Deliver System Reform – California (January 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates to California Health Benefit Exchange regarding health plan management and delivery system reform.
- CU Letter: Joint Letter on IT Solicitation for CalHEERS (January 2012)
Joint letter from Consumers Union and other California advocates regarding the request for proposals (RFP) for a vendor to develop California’s new IT system.
- Preserving Integrity in California’s Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment and Retention System (CalHEERS): Privacy Policy Recommendations (April 2012)
Consumers Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology developed a series of privacy recommendations to guide California policymakers as they establish the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment and Retention System (CalHEERS).
- CONSUMER GUIDE: The Affordable Care Act: What you and your family need to know (March 2012)
Posted 3-23-12 Our Consumers Union Guide tells you what the Affordable Care Act means to you and your family
- REPORT: Addressing Barriers to Online Applications: Can Public Enrollment Stations Increase Access to Health Coverage? (November 2011)
Posted 11/08/11 This report looks at the use of public enrollment stations (sometimes known as “kiosks”) for helping people enroll in health coverage. Looking at pilot projects in a diverse set of states, including Alabama, California, Florida
- La Guía de Salud: La Ley de Cuidado Asequible: Lo que usted y su familia necesitan saber (Marzo 2012)
Posted 3-23-12 La Ley de Cuidado Asequible está cambiando el mercado de los seguros de salud de forma notable. Los primero cambios entraron en vigor el 23 de septiembre de 2010. Muchos más irán ocurriendo en los próximos años. También Medicare y Me
- CU Comments: Chart on developing a technology system for the California Exchange (December 2011)
This chart shows CU comments to the California Exchange Board regarding development of the information technology (IT) system for determining enrollment, eligibility and retention.
- CU Letter: Cover letter to comment matrix on developing a technology system for the California Exchange (December 2011)
CU’s cover letter for comments to the California Exchange Board regarding development of the information technology (IT) system for determining enrollment, eligibility and retention.
- CU Comments: Stakeholder Process For California Health Benefit Exchange (October 2011)
CU’s comments to the Exchange Board regarding the stakeholder process for developing recommendations for the design of an eligibility and enrollment system.
- CU Comments: California Health Benefit Exchange Design Options (October 2011)
CU’s letter to the California Exchange Board regarding design options for the new information technology (IT) system that will operate to enroll consumers in health plans, determine eligibility for insurance programs, and perform other Exchange operations
- CU Comments: Level 1 Federal Grant Letter to California Health Benefit Exchange (June 2011)
CU provided comments to the Exchange about its application for federal planning funds.
- CU Comments: Communications Support for the Outreach & Education & Assisters Program (January 2012)
Here is a letter from CU and our consumer allies to the Exchange on selected outreach issues.
- CU Comments: Strategic Visioning for the California Health Benefit Exchange (July 2011)
CU gave input to the Exchange Board and staff about developing its vision, mission and goals statement.