A Database for Monitoring the Cost and Comprehensiveness of Marketplace Health Plans

As the open enrollment period for 2015 health coverage approaches, a key question is to what extent health insurers offering plans in the marketplaces will revise their premiums, deductibles, cost-sharing, and plan types from the previous year. Following on a recently reviewed small grant, this project will continue to build a national database on marketplace health plans for 2014 and 2015 that will enable the research team, as well as Fund staff and grantees, to conduct broad-based analysis of annual changes in premiums, benefit design characteristics, and plan enrollment. The project will produce timely information to policymakers about trends in the cost and comprehensiveness of plans sold through the marketplaces and about the implications for consumers, small employers, the federal government, and the marketplaces’ long-term viability.