title: Innovative strategies to help Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs) compete in new insurance marketplaces.
abstract: The Affordable Care Act paves the way for groups to develop innovative, affordable health insurance and care options known as Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OPs). These CO-OPs will be nonprofit, consumer-controlled entities that are designed to serve individuals and small businesses, especially in noncompetitive markets. The CO-OP provision was included in the Affordable Care Act to address the lack of affordable health plan alternatives in many state and regional markets and to counter a trend toward market concentration. Despite their promise, CO-OPs face a number of business challenges that go beyond typical start-up hurdles. This issue brief lays out a number of innovative strategies CO-OP organizers are developing to increase the odds of long-term sustainability and economic success. These strategies--aimed at building market share, creating integrated provider networks, and achieving cost savings through payment reform--could establish CO-OPs as a viable new entrant in the health care field.
authors.affiliation: Small Business Majority, USA. tgardiner@smallbusinessmajority.org
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neece
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendelevitz
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation / Q000191:economics*; D004465:Economic Competition; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics*; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D014481:United States