Carson: New Website Helps to Put Americans in Charge of their Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman André Carson today applauded the launch of HealthCare.gov, a comprehensive resource that helps individuals and small businesses navigate the complicated process of shopping for health insurance.

The creation of this website was one of the key features for consumers included in the Health Insurance Reform legislation signed into law in March.

"This site hosts a wealth of clear, jargon-free information that will help Hoosiers know what insurance options they have available to them," said Carson. "One of the main goals of Health Insurance Reform was to put Americans in control of their health care, and this website is an important step in that direction.

"By inputting just a few pieces of background information - such as state, age range, and current insurance status -a list of both private and public health insurance options will be generated," Carson added. "Starting in October, price estimates will be available, creating a marketplace that is transparent and competitive. It will enable consumers to compare both the quality and the cost of their health insurance options so they can choose what plan works best for them."

The insurance options finder on HealthCare.gov has a database of over 2 billion scenarios, with listings from more than 1000 insurance carriers and over 5500 insurance products. The website also hosts over 500 new pages of content, such as a health care reform implementation timeline and state-by-state information for individuals with pre-existing conditions.