Americans generally still view free, efficient markets as foundational to the U.S. economy, but not all markets are as transparent and navigable as they ought to be. Take health insurance. A market that started out atypically – someone else (employers) bought and paid for the product that consumers used – has become more difficult to navigate as employers pay for less (if any) coverage and insurers offer more (if difficult to assess) options.

It seems like a good time then for Getting All the Cards on the Table: The Premise and Promise of Health Insurance Rate Review in Arizona. Consumers are being driven to put more skin in the game, and they need a clearer context when more decisions are being asked of them. Cards was developed by SLHI and the Arizona PIRG Education Fund to help consumers, regulators and advocates better understand the policy considerations.

We can’t have it both ways, insisting that people make detailed choices while obscuring access to clear information. No one’s saying that change will come easily either, but that it is desirable in terms of pursuing a more efficient market.