You can now WINDOW-SHOP for your Obamacare.
You don't have to sign up to find out what you can get.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added Thursday a premium estimation tool to the marketplace's website. By answering a few questions -- What kind of coverage are you looking for? How many people are you buying for? -- consumers can see specific plans available in their area and an estimated monthly premium.
This is just basic information -- and users still need to complete the application to receive official prices -- but it addresses a significant concern from the marketplace's bumpy rollout.
"This tool provides a user-friendly way to see high-level plan information with examples of pre-tax credit prices," HHS spokeswoman Emma Sandoe said in a statement. "Most consumers will be eligible for tax credits that will significantly lower the base premiums that they will see through this tool. Consumers should complete the application process to see more detailed plan information, including prices with tax credits (if available), deductibles, and provider networks."
With this change, users now don't have to provide any personal information to see the prices. As HHS notes, these estimates don't account for any tax credits that the user might be eligible for, but there is a link to a tax credit calculator available on the same webpage.