Oregon is leading the way once again in health insurance reform! The Oregon Legislature has passed several bills introduced by both the Senate and House that will make health insurance costs more “transparent” to the consumer. One bill includes language that allows consumers to compare costs based on the medical facility used for certain medical procedures, and is now available to any consumer with an Internet hook-up. Click HERE for the latest link to the news release detailing this information!
As well, I have linked to the State of Oregon’s government website that gives the current information on health insurance transparency. At this link, you will be able to access a ton of information for both consumers and researchers. For insurance geeks like me, this is amazing information! Click HERE for the portal to the oregon.gov website!
At first glance, this appears to me to be a wonderful method of comparing costs. The average consumer, when faced with a medical procedure, is normally not only concerned over the medical procedure itself, but often has large concerns with the $$$ involved and what he will actually have to pay! Other requirements of the transparency bill(s) will require insurers to give the patient estimates of the out-of-pocket costs associated with their medical procedures BEFORE the procedures are actually performed. All I can say about that is…..WOW!
You mean that a person will actually be able to understand approximately how much they will have to pay BEFORE the bills start to arrive? That, my friends, is a truly frightening proposition! Stay tuned…this could get interesting!
Your comments would be appreciated!