Connecticut Launches New Health Care Cost Estimator Tools
The Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) recently announced a new set of Health Care Cost Estimator Tools designed to help consumers better understand what they may pay out of pocket for medical services. Big I Connecticut members who sell health insurance may find these tools useful to help clients navigate confusing health care costs.
Consumers can find the new platform in the CID Consumer Information Center. It gives them one convenient place to access participating health insurers’ cost estimators. Instead of hunting around multiple carrier websites, they can start from one location and connect directly to their insurer’s estimator tool using their existing login credentials.
The tools aim to help consumers compare potential out-of-pocket costs before receiving care. Once logged in, they can review estimated costs for common procedures and services based on their specific health plan. For those insured under high-deductible health plans or plans where they share large portions of the cost, this is valuable information. They can then budget for the cost of necessary procedures or decide whether to undergo less urgent ones.
CID said that consumers can also make more informed decisions by seeing how pricing may vary depending on where they receive care. Consumers often assume all hospitals and providers cost roughly the same. These tools may show that costs can vary significantly, even for routine services.
The estimator tools add to CID’s growing Consumer Information Center initiative. The Center already includes educational resources regarding personal property and casualty, life, health, annuities, and long-term care insurance. The department expects to introduce additional resources and consumer tools in the future.
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