State Coverage Initiatives Coverage Institute September 26, 2007 New Hampshire State Coverage Initiatives Coverage Institute September 26, 2007

Current Status: Recent legislative change to expand dependent age Private insurance claims data available as a resource to the Insurance Department, DHHS, policymakers, and interested parties Plans to collect “claims” for the uninsured Major health insurance changes taking place in surrounding states creating momentum in NH

Use of Claims: www.nhhealthcost.org example: Purpose: Provide patients with useful information about the price of health care services so that they can make more informed decisions about where to seek care and what it will cost them. Using common procedures, provides estimated total costs (not charges) to the patient for the entire visit Calculates an estimate of individual patient liability

New Hampshire’s Five Point Plan: Use the claims data to measure the health care needs of the uninsured and require not for profit providers to report charitable care Determine the cost of providing care to the uninsured Design a standard benefit plan that addresses the health care needs of the uninsured Use reinsurance or another mechanism to make a subsidized standard benefit plan available to low income individuals and small employers Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure that the uninsured purchase health insurance under the insurance safety net