State Public Option Plans Are Making Progress on Reducing Consumer Costs

By Christine Monahan, Nadia Stovicek, and Justin Giovannelli

States across the country remain motivated to adopt reforms that improve affordability and expand access to coverage for populations that still lack access to care. Because of their potential to tackle both issues at the same time, state public option–style plans are a key candidate for consideration.

In a post for the Commonwealth Fund’s To the Point blog, CHIR experts provide an update on state public option–style plans. The authors discuss existing programs in Washington and Colorado, a soon-to-be implemented program in Nevada, and legislation laying groundwork for potential future programs in a trio of additional states. Despite pushback from insurers and providers, early adopters of state public option-style plans have seen progress. Some states are also considering new models of public option–style plans, including Medicaid and Basic Health Program buy-ins. While it remains to be seen whether more states will join Washington, Colorado, and Nevada in establishing a public option program, recent state action signals an ongoing interest in exploring similar proposals.

You can read the full blog post here.