The National Partnership for Women and Families commissioned Manatt to prepare a progress report focused on the role of marketplaces in supporting informed consumer decision-making about plans. As implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues, the focus on consumer behavior and decision-making is growing. A key question for both advocates and policymakers is whether consumers have the tools they need to support informed choice with regard to health plan selection in the marketplace, since selecting the right plan – one that meets a family’s healthcare needs and preferences and aligns with its financial reality – is key to consumer satisfaction. This report looks at how well the marketplace, composed of the Federally-facilitated marketplace (Healthcare.gov) and 14 state-run marketplaces, is providing consumers with key information about available health plans. The report also assesses new tools and promising practices that marketplace websites are employing to enhance the consumer browsing experience and to support informed decision-making.

Additional Author:
Marlee Ickowicz