title: Raising awareness of consumers' options in the individual health insurance market.
abstract: Lack of consumer awareness of where to get health insurance, what it costs, and what options exist is a critical barrier that prevents many people from obtaining coverage in the individual market (coverage that can include family members). However, a recent study suggests that that three-fourths of the uninsured could find a policy for less than 2,000 dollars per year and that one-third could find a policy for less than 1,000 dollars per year. More widespread dissemination of accurate and transparent information on prices, options, and benefits could play a role in expanding insurance coverage.
authors.affiliation: eHealth Insurance Services Inc, Sunnyvale, California, USA.
authors.forename: Vip
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D004465:Economic Competition; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States