Major US Health Plans Agree to Give Consumers Free Access to Timely Information About Health Care Prices to Foster Greater Transparency

The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) announced today that it will work with three of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare, to develop and provide consumers free access to an online tool that will offer consumers the most comprehensive information about the price and quality of health care services. The independent, not for profit HCCI will create and administer this information portal, which is expected to be available in early 2015. The health benefit companies will provide information on health care costs to HCCI, which will maintain and manage access to the information in a highly secure, protected environment. Other major carriers have expressed interest and HCCI expects additional carriers to participate in the near future and be part of the initial release in early 2015.