Evaluation of the WV Health Benefit Exchange

Start Date: March 1, 2013

Description: The Health Research Center (HRC) is engaged in a five-year evaluation of the health, economic, and consumer marketing outcomes of the Health Insurance Marketplace in West Virginia. This project is partnership between the HRC and the Health Policy Division of the WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). The interdisciplinary research team is composed of nearly 30 members including faculty and staff from the WVU School of Public Health, Marketing Department in the School of Business and Economics, and Department of Emergency Medicine among others.

Activities to date include a statewide survey disseminated to 6,000 WV residents to better understand baseline interest and awareness of the Marketplace prior to the launch of the Marketplace on October 1, 2013. Other elements included in this annual survey include key health statistics of those likely to be impacted by Affordable Care Act (ACA) through increased enrollment in Medicaid or the purchase of insurance on the Marketplace. Additional survey work focuses on consumer experience among those who have enrolled in a Marketplace plan during the first year and ER utilization prior to open enrollment. Baseline health indicators from unique, state-specific sources as well as national surveys (CPS, ACS, BRFSS, YRBS, MEPS, CAHPS) were compiled to present a picture of population health prior to Marketplace coverage.

Data collection and reporting will continue annually in an effort to inform state efforts to implement Marketplace portions of the ACA. Evaluation findings are regularly disseminated to OIC partners, including key outreach groups throughout the state through periodic presentations, data sharing, and a publicly available annual report. Future evaluation activities will include additional activities around the implementation of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) and its effect on small businesses, as well as the economic impact of Marketplace activities in WV.

• West Virginia Health Benefit Exchange Evaluation and Work Plan
• West Virginia Health Benefit Exchange
• West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Reports and Summaries

• 2014 Insurance Executive Summary
• 2014 Insurance Report 1: Marketplace Background, Evaluation Plan, and Data Sources
• 2014 Insurance Report 2: Awareness and Interest
• 2014 Insurance Report 3: Enrollment Numbers and Experiences
• 2014 Insurance Report 4: Economic Theories of Decision Making and Baseline Data
• 2014 Insurance Report 5: Baseline Status of Health in West Virginia
• 2014 Insurance Report Appendices