This document summarizes a study examining state consumer health care cost websites. The study aimed to identify the number of such websites, document the information provided, and assess their effectiveness in cost transparency. Researchers developed a search strategy and REDCap database to catalogue relevant websites. Preliminary findings suggest many states lack applicable cost websites, and those available often provide limited information not targeted for consumers. The study highlights the need for improved cost transparency as enrollment in high deductible health plans grows.

1. A Census of State Consumer Health Care Cost Websites

2. Background
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP)
• Relatively low premiums
• $1,200 minimum for single deductible, and
minimum of $2,400 for family deductible
• Can be linked to Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Tax-advantaged medical savings account
• Consumer driven health care

3. HDHPs may attract…
…The Young and Healthy …Those approaching …The Money Savvy
Medicare age

4. Concerns about HDHPs
• Foregone care
• Lack of cost transparency
• Financial burden

5. The Study…
Growing enrollment in HDHPs calls for more transparency.
Consumers can’t make informed decisions without the necessary
information.
What information is available?

6. The Goal…
• Identify the number of state consumer health care
costs websites
• Document and describe the information on these
websites
• Determine the effectiveness of these websites to
properly provide consumers with cost transparency

7. Data Collection Process

8. REDCap

9. Online Search
• Google search:
• Chose 10 key terms (e.g. “California health care costs”)
• Went through first 100 websites
• National Conference of State Legislature (NCSL) article
• State Hospital Associations
• State Departments of Insurance
• State Departments of Social Services
• State Departments of Health

10. My Role
• Worked on creation of the REDCap database and
survey instrument
• Developed and refined the search strategy
• Searched online for health care cost websites
• Catalogued the information contained in the
health care cost websites

11. Findings
Preliminary findings suggest that there is a lack
of consumer health care cost websites
available:
• Many states do not have any applicable websites
• Most states have very few available websites
• Many websites we found were not targeted for
consumers

12. Florida
California

13. Lessons Learned
• Research is a process
• Change is inevitable
• Persistence is crucial