The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government

As the number of uninsured has increased and employer-based coverage has declined, policymakers have begun to focus their attention on the small group market. This focus suggests the need for closer analytical assessment of State activities aimed at improving cost and accessibility in the small group market. In the first of two grants from the New York Health Foundation’s Coverage Consortium initiative, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government conducted an in-depth analysis and investigation of the applicability of various initiatives and policy options for New York State.

This project was part of a larger NYHealth Coverage Consortium that funded 10 grants to seven universities, policy institutes, and community agencies across the State, supporting projects that could inform State health reform efforts, offer ways to streamline enrollment in public programs, significantly reduce costs and improve quality, and test ideas for expanding coverage among small employers, sole proprietors, and self-employed people.

Read an NYHealth special report that contains a summary of findings from this consortium.

Read about the second of two grants to the Rockefeller Institute from the NYHealth Coverage Consortium initiative.

The Rockefeller Institute will study the small group health insurance market and investigate the applicability of various initiatives and policy options for reforming this market.

As the number of uninsured increases and employer-based coverage declines, policymakers are beginning to focus attention on the small group market. This focus suggests the need for closer analytical assessment of state activities aimed at improving cost and accessibility in the small group market. To better guide decision-making, the Rockefeller project team will conduct an in-depth analysis and investigation of the applicability of various initiatives and policy options for New York State.

During the first phase of the project, the team will review existing information on states’ experiences with small group reform and a national assessment of current state small group activities. This review will contribute to the content of a New York-focused primer on small group market policies, coverage options, and challenges. Given that many states are already implementing actions to improve the small group market, the second phase of this project will identify major design, management, and implementation issues that could influence the design and actions in New York State.

The Rockefeller Institute project team will collect and synthesize information to inform discussion, analysis, and debate among policymakers and State officials about the small group and individual insurance market during working seminars held at different points in the project period. The Rockefeller Institute’s working seminars will be targeted primarily at state officials and policymakers. The seminars will address the major challenges expected to arise from attempts to improve the small group market and identify those issues most likely to be relevant to public discussions in New York.

As part of the NYHealth Coverage Consortium, the United Hospital Fund project will also support developing some proposals and projections for restructuring the small group and individual insurance markets. The Rockefeller project team will provide the baseline information needed for these analyses by describing how the markets function today and how other states have addressed problems in these markets.

Finally, results of this overall project will be disseminated to an appropriate set of stakeholders who can shape and mold policy based on the results. According to the Department of Insurance, information developed from this project will be very helpful in providing a starting point for reforming the State’s small group and individual health insurance markets.

This project is part of the NYS Health Coverage Consortium.