On Tuesday, Houston Mayor Bill White announced the launch of a new Web site designed to help consumers and small businesses learn more about their health insurance options, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Web site offers a range of ways to compare health plans, including side-by-side comparisons of monthly premiums, deductibles and coverage options. Users of the site can search for information in various ways, such as plans with monthly premiums of less than $100 or deductibles under $500 annually.
The site does not promote any specific insurer, but only health plans that received a B+ rating or higher from the Texas Department of Insurance are listed on the site. The rating system measures how well insurers fare in audits of their policy writing practices and compliance with state insurance rules.
White said he hopes the site will increase health plan pricing transparency and encourage uninsured residents to find affordable coverage (Cook, Houston Chronicle, 4/30).