SHAHEEN APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF CONSUMER HEALTH INSURANCE SATISFACTION MEASURE

(Washington, D.C.)-U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today applauded the passage of a measure that will help consumers navigate the health insurance Exchange included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by providing data on customer satisfaction. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is currently under debate in the Senate.

"Providing consumers with more information empowers them to make informed choices about their health care," said Shaheen. "This measure will ensure that families and small business shopping for insurance on the Exchange will have important customer feedback so that they can take that into account before purchasing a plan."

The amendment establishes allows consumers to voice their approval or disapproval of their health insurance plan purchased through the Exchange by participating in an enrollee satisfaction survey and rating system. The provision would make the data available on the internet so that consumers may use this information to inform their health care plan selection, and it would also allow lawmakers to monitor the success of the Exchange.

The Exchange is a market place run by states that will make it easy for individuals to purchase health insurance coverage and compare different health insurance plans. The Exchange has been compared to Travelocity, Orbitz, and other websites that allow consumers to make side-by-side comparisons of products.