BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

Groups want out-of-pocket cost calculator for health plans

October 17, 2013 12:03 AM UTC

A group of more than 80 patient advocacy and provider organizations said CMS should create an out-of-pocket cost calculator to help patients compare plans on health insurance exchanges. In a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the group said patients can only compare plans based on the premium and cost-sharing structure, but that for patients with chronic conditions and disabilities the actual cost of coverage has a "broader meaning than premium and cost-sharing structure alone."

As an example, the letter cited a tool that CMS created for Medicare beneficiaries that accounts for a patient's health status along with premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and medical benefit and prescription drug spending. The tool provides out-of-pocket estimates for yearly costs of health and drug coverage. ...