Online Searches For Health Insurance Most Often Direct Consumers To Limited-Benefit Health Plans

During the 2018 Health Insurance Marketplace enrollment period, consumers shopping online for health insurance plans were often directed to short-term, limited-duration insurance (STDLI) plans. More than half of online searches using common search terms “Cheap health insurance,” “Short-term health insurance,” “Obamacare plans,” and “ACA enroll” returned sites offering only STLDI plans that were not compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Only 19% of online searches returned sites offering only PPACA-compliant plans. Before the enrollment period opened, less than 1% of searches returned sites with PPACA compliant plans. Lead-generating sites and other . . .