Report Calls on State to Help Consumers Sort Out Obamacare Options

Obamacare can be confusing -- especially now that the president has told the states that it's up to them to decide whether to let insurers continue to offer barebones plans that don't meet the standards set by federal health reform.

In fact, just trying to sort out the plans and subsidies offered on healthcare.gov, the federal marketplace, can be a challenge. The antidote to confusion: information. At least that's one of the conclusions of a new report issued yesterday by New Jersey Policy Perspective, a liberal-leaning think tank.

The report's author, Raymond J. Castro, argues that New Jersey officials should take a more active role guaranteeing that consumers are aware of their insurance options and rights. And that role should not be limited to the online federal marketplace, but should be a comprehensive outreach program. 

This position reinforces a point that advocates for expanding insurance access have been making for several months: The state should spend the $7.6 million in federal funding it’s received to educate consumers about the choices they face and the smartest decisions they can make.

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