Health coverage site adds a feature [San Antonio Express-News]

Oct. 12--The federal website where consumers can buy health insurance and apply for tax credits to lower their premiums has unveiled a newly formatted option allowing shoppers to browse and compare health plan price estimates.

Consumers don't have to create an online account or log in to use the new tool, which will help users avoid the widespread technical problems that have hampered the healthcare.gov website since open enrollment began Oct. 1.

While plan prices were accessible on the government-run website previously, they were posted on a large Excel spreadsheet that included every state and county in the country, forcing users to wade through the entire list to find their local health plan options.

To get to the new tool, go to healthcare.gov and click on "Preview plans and prices." It provides prices in a more easily understandable format. Consumers can specify their state and county; whether they're shopping for themselves, their spouses or their children; and whether they're under age 50 or older.

However, the price estimates displayed do not factor in any tax credits or subsidies that consumers might qualify for to reduce their premiums under the Affordable Care Act. Prices shown also don't factor in a beneficiary's specific age, ZIP code and whether they smoke -- all circumstances that could steer prices up or down.

The tool also does not generate data showing which hospitals and doctors are considered "in network" for specific health insurance plans.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the price estimates are based on "common scenarios" and give consumers a more "visually friendly" starting point to compare plans.

Open enrollment continues until March 31.

Gloria Kravetz, an independent San Antonio health insurance agent and broker, said the new tool doesn't add much to the federal website or go far enough to allow consumers a true comparison of their options.

"I think that the average consumer does not understand what a deductible is, what co-insurance is, what out-of-pocket is, what is covered at 100 percent at no charge, what waiting periods are," Kravetz said.

Brokers can help consumers understand the process and select the best option while someone shopping at home on the healthcare.gov website may not be fully informed when selecting a health plan, Kravetz said.

"People are going to be locked into something until open enrollment happens (again) next fall. So it's a pretty big investment," she said.

Catherine Zambrano-Chavez, a spokeswoman for San Antonio nonprofit Community First Health Plans, finds the new tool helpful, but said she hopes consumers haven't given up on the federal website because of frustrations with all the technical problems.

CommuniCare Health Centers noted the estimated prices on the federal website are just a rough estimate and that not many details are provided.

The San Antonio-based network of clinics has been helping people enroll in the health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act.

"We are also reminding people that these estimates do not include any tax credits that may lower their out-of-pocket costs," CommuniCare spokeswoman Marisol Cortez said. "We certainly do not want people to feel the plans are unaffordable when they may be eligible for subsidies."

While the federal website has seen many problems, there still is time to fix the glitches and to compare plan prices, said Joanna Antongiovanni, an agent and broker with Wortham Insurance'sSan Antonio office.

"While there are new links available to consumers to obtain estimated pricing, insurance agents and brokers are the best resource for navigating this new marketplace and reviewing all your options," said Antongiovanni, a past president of the Texas Association of Health Underwriters.

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