Basic Health Programs: An Alternative to Public Options?

Commonwealth Fund March 27, 2024
Naomi Zewde, Coleman Drake, Adam Biener

TOPLINES

“Public option” health plans can be difficult to implement because of poor provider network participation and low enrollment

Basic Health Programs (BHPs) may be a more effective way for states to expand low-cost coverage to residents with lower incomes and reduce health care spending

Abstract

• Issue: “Public option” health plans, particularly as enacted in Washington State, have had difficulty meeting their goals of improving affordability for patients and reducing overall health care costs. Some states have instead created a Basic Health Program (BHP), an alternative form of coverage authorized by the Affordable Care Act that replaces marketplace coverage for residents with low incomes who are eligible for premium subsidies.
• Goals: Analyze the evolution of Washington’s public option and...

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