Newschannel 34
Binghamton, NY
Citizen Action has released a new report that it calls a road map for a pro-consumer health system in New York State.
Some responsibility to implement federal health care reform will fall on states. For example, in New York, a health insurance exchange will be formed, which Citizen Action says is like a shopping mall. Different stores in the mall would be different health insurance options offered by companies. The report is aimed at legislators who will be establishing ground rules for health care reform. However, another goal is to raise public awareness of the issue. Citizen action says an exchange needs to work and protect consumers.
Mary Clark says, “There’s really strong enforcement that we want to see through our attorney general’s office that really protect us consumers. And, really have consumer help that enables people, because we can set up all these exchanges, but if people don’t know how to enter into them and how to choose health insurance, we need to provide that helping hand. There are numerous other things in our report, but it really lays out a road map.”
Citizen Action favors a state-wide exchange as opposed to regional insurance exchanges because it says it would keep costs lower.
