WASHINGTON - Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) today announced the launch of HealthCare.gov, the most comprehensive resource on health insurance currently available.  The website hosts consumer-friendly information and tools to help families, individuals and small businesses navigate the complicated process of shopping for health insurance.  The creation of this new website was one of the key consumer protection components in the Health Insurance Reform legislation that was signed into law in March.

“Whether you are a new college graduate, a family who recently lost their insurance, or someone with a pre-existing condition – this site has a list of insurance options available for you,” said Rep. Towns.  “I urge all Brooklynites to use this resource and take advantage of the benefits of the new health insurance reform law.”

The core of HealthCare.gov is a powerful insurance options finder.  After a few simple steps, the tool generates a list of both private and public health insurance options.  The tool will list details of insurance plans offered in that state and include contact information for each company that best fits their needs.  Beginning in October 2010, the tool will also include pricing information, further simplifying health insurance shopping.

“With the addition of plan price estimates in the coming months, HealthCare.gov will enable consumers to compare both the quality and the cost of their health insurance options so they can choose what plan works best for them,” added Rep. Towns. “Finally, individuals, families and small businesses can easily search for available insurance options and make informed decisions about their health care with thorough, unbiased information.”

The insurance options finder has a database of more than two billion scenarios, with listings from more than 1000 insurance carriers and over 5500 insurance products.  The website also hosts over 500 new pages of content, such as a health care reform implementation timeline and state-by-state information for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

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