Empty Promise: Searching for Health Insurance in an Unfair Market


 

Publication Date: August 2008

Publisher: Families USA

Author(s): Claire McAndrew

Research Area: Health

Keywords: individual market; insurance; premium

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

This issue brief discusses how the individual health insurance market differs from the employer market and examines what happens to consumers who seek coverage in the individual market. Problems in the individual market include policies that don't provide quality coverage; policies that are very expensive or that cost more than advertised; and the fact that many applicants cannot obtain a policy at any price.