Before the Affordable Care Act was passed and signed, controversy swirled about whether a public plan should be included at the federal level. The public option did not survive in Washington, D.C., but it may take root in Sacramento.
At least one county-based public health plan has announced plans to participate in the California Health Benefit Exchange. Others may follow.
Details for how public and private plans might coexist or compete in California’s exchange have not yet been determined.
The exchange board last month invited a wide array of stakeholders to discuss a variety of details:
- How many plans should be included in the exchange?
- What should the essential benefits look like?
- How can the exchange minimize language, cultural and geographic barriers to coverage?
- Should private and public plans compete in the exchange? If so, how?
We invited experts and stakeholders to share their thoughts on those issues, as well as one overall question: How should the exchange structure itself so California consumers are best served?
We got responses from: