{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Georgia PIRG","provider_url":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/georgia","author_name":"Georgia PIRG","author_url":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/georgia","title":"Making the Grade","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"BypsriPVSU\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/georgia\/resources\/making-the-grade\/\">Making the Grade<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/georgia\/resources\/making-the-grade\/embed\/#?secret=BypsriPVSU\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Making the Grade&#8221; &#8212; Georgia PIRG\" data-secret=\"BypsriPVSU\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/georgia\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","description":"When it comes to health care, there\u00a0are few magic-bullet solutions for\u00a0the many problems consumers face\u00a0in the marketplace: insurers don\u2019t compete\u00a0for their business, leading to higher prices\u00a0and lower quality. Important information\u00a0about coverage is buried in the fine print,\u00a0making it ha rd to know what\u2019s really covered\u00a0or which plan is right. And costs are\u00a0continuing their unsustainable rise.\u00a0\u00a0 Yet there are policy solutions that can\u00a0make a difference and give consumers\u00a0a better deal on health care. One of the\u00a0most important of these is the creation of\u00a0new state-based health insurance marketplaces,\u00a0called exchanges. These exchanges,\u00a0authorized by 2010\u2019s health reform law,\u00a0offer the states the chance to address the\u00a0win problems of cost and quality, and help\u00a0consumers get a fair shake when buying\u00a0insurance.\u00a0 Exchanges give individuals and small\u00a0businesses the same advantages that large\u00a0businesses generally enjoy when it comes to\u00a0buying health insurance. Large businesses\u00a0have strong negotiating power, allowing\u00a0them to get a lower rate for coverage as\u00a0insurers compete for their business. They\u00a0also benefit from economies of scale that\u00a0lower administrative costs, and have sophisticated\u00a0human resources departments\u00a0and brokers at their disposal, making it\u00a0easier for employees to understand their\u00a0options and decide which plan is right for\u00a0them.\u00a0 In much the same way, exchanges give\u00a0individuals and small businesses the ability\u00a0to band together and gain the same benefits\u00a0of size, negotiating power, and information.\u00a0By providing better options and better\u00a0information, and negotiating on behalf of\u00a0its enrollees, the exchange can level the\u00a0playing field for consumers.\u00a0 States thus have an important opportunity\u00a0to improve their health care marketplaces\u00a0through the creation of an exchange.\u00a0And the health reform law gives the states\u00a0substantial leeway to define critical aspects\u00a0of the exchange, including who is eligible to\u00a0buy coverage through it, how aggressively it\u00a0will set standards and negotiate with insurers,\u00a0and who will run it. A weak exchange\u00a0could wind up taking its cues from the\u00a0insurance\u00a0industry, not consumers, and do little to shift the fundamental problems in most states\u2019 health care markets. A strong\u00a0exchange, though, can be just the tool\u00a0states need to revolutionize their health\u00a0care systems and improve quality while\u00a0lowering costs. As of this writing, several states have\u00a0already taken this opportunity and established\u00a0their exchanges. But not all\u00a0exchanges are created equal, and many\u00a0states have yet to commit to establishing\u00a0one. This report assesses the progress that\u00a0the states have made, and for the states\u00a0that have begun to set up their exchange,\u00a0evaluates them on the myriad policies and\u00a0criteria that will determine whether it is\u00a0ultimately successful in improving health\u00a0care for consumers."}