Idaho launches health insurance exchange, states ramp up exchange ad campaigns

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Idaho has launched its health insurance exchange with a splashy new website and local ad campaign. The marketplace will go by the name Your Health Idaho, and will be fully operational by January. On the website, Idahoans can learn more about the tools and resources available through Idaho’s new health insurance marketplace in both English and Spanish.

As part of its outreach efforts, Your Health Idaho will train Consumer Connectors, which include agents, brokers and In-Person Assisters who will be available across the state to help Idahoans navigate their health insurance options both online and offline. Consumer Connectors can inform Idahoans about their options so that they can make an informed choice about purchasing a health insurance plan that is best for them.

CivSource has previously reported about similar connectors supplied to states by MAXIMUS and Xerox. Patient navigators are also being trained to help the elderly and other high risk patient groups that may have difficulty finding their way through the nation’s needlessly complex health care system. Customer service agents will be available on the exchanges, while navigators ensure that individuals make it to appointments and understand things like prescriptions. Both roles were included in Obamacare in order to make it easier for people to access health care and understand coverage benefits.

A number of states are launching ad campaigns to help educate people about the existence of health insurance exchanges ahead of enrollment periods starting in January. For states that were quick to build exchanges in the first wave, general pricing information on policies may also be available. Rhode Island, which was one of the first states to get started on an exchange recently released pricing for insurance coverage. Lowest price options come in around $100-200/month these policies are tailored toward young people and are often only catastrophic coverage ($6,000+ deductible), but still clock in a price well out of reach for that same demographic, which is structurally unemployed and typically carries student debt.