HHS Unveils New Tools on HealthCare.gov; Tom Romeo Comments

The Department of Health and Human Services has launched the updated federal health insurance marketplace for users in 38 states who want to either enroll or renew their health plans for 2016, USA Today reported Friday.

HHS opened the HealthCare.gov website for browsing Sunday with a new tool that helps users calculate out-of-pocket costs for each health plan and a new function that allows consumers to reset passwords, Jayne O’Donnell writes.

Tom Romeo, president of federal services business at Maximus, told USA Today new tools that HHS introduced to the health insurance exchange are similar to those found on online shopping sites.

“They are focused on making the experience more of a parallel to what people expect when they get on an Amazon,” Romeo said.

“They had a rocky start and they’re making improvements.”

Maximus provides Medicare appeals process support and call center services for HealthCare.gov and other state-run health insurance exchanges.