The Health Insurance Marketplace: What We Learned and How We Can Educate Our Patients

Thank you for this information. This will enable us to better help our patients as they attempt to navigate the confusing marketplace.

Thank you for posting this. Because I've been working an on-call position, I've been buying my own health insurance. I got a letter recently from my insurer stating they are getting out of the individual plan business. I have already checked the Marketplace website and did find it confusing. Thanks for helping to clarify and streamline the process. This will also help me to help others who are confused and overwhelmed.

AGAIN I WILL SAY AS NURSES WE HAVE NO PLACE NOR DUTY to educate people on their health plan choices. It is not in our job description or expected duties. Furthermore on this litigious society, you direct someone towards a plan and they have problems with it, they can and will sue you personally and your malpractice insurance won't cover you. They will.simply ask where is your financial planners license and drop you. Heck, here in Houston a lady is suing a neighbor after HERE_URL pit bull got into the neighbors fenced yard and attacked and killed their dog. The pit bull owner got bit when pulling her dog off the neighbor. She is suing the neighbor for goodness sake for failure to secure her dog...it was secured behind her own fence. So helping with someone else's insurance plan info when not doing such as you're regular job can get you sued.

Surely not if you offer the information as an educational offering. If need be include a disclaimer. Like " the information I provide to you is not meant as a substitute for advice from your insurance adjuster Nor is it meant as advice or to. tell you what decisions to make"! Or just plain this is meant as information only any decisions you make are solely your responsibility!How can you NOT help your patient's to understand how the insurance is supposed to work?

Quote from KatL.RNSurely not if you offer the information as an educational offering.

Quote from Michael M. Heuninckx It saddens me that a nurse would fear an opportunity to educate a patient for fear of litigation.Michael M. Heuninckx RN-BSN

Quote from Susie2310 The last time I read the Nurse Practice Act and associated regulations for my state, assisting patients with choosing their health plan was not part of my scope of practice.

I think this was a great way to provide some very confusing information. I might be shopping the marketplace myself next year so any insight on what is offered is a great help. As a side note I offer general advice to my patients about insurance on a daily basis. I explain copays, deductables, premiums, etc. I would NEVER suggest a plan for them to pick, but do offer information about choices. And there will ALWAYS be some story of someone suing someone for something crazy. It happens. Anyone can sue anyone for anything. It doesn't mean the lawsuit goes anywhere.

Quote from KyrshamarksAGAIN I WILL SAY AS NURSES WE HAVE NO PLACE NOR DUTY to educate people on their health plan choices. It is not in our job description or expected duties. Furthermore on this litigious society, you direct someone towards a plan and they have problems with it, they can and will sue you personally and your malpractice insurance won't cover you. They will.simply ask where is your financial planners license and drop you. Heck, here in Houston a lady is suing a neighbor after HERE_URL pit bull got into the neighbors fenced yard and attacked and killed their dog. The pit bull owner got bit when pulling her dog off the neighbor. She is suing the neighbor for goodness sake for failure to secure her dog...it was secured behind her own fence. So helping with someone else's insurance plan info when not doing such as you're regular job can get you sued.

Quote from MunoRN Technically you can be sued for anything

Quote from KyrshamarksAGAIN I WILL SAY AS NURSES WE HAVE NO PLACE NOR DUTY to educate people on their health plan choices. It is not in our job description or expected duties.

Quote from MunoRNThis has to be one of the most wildly inaccurate posts I've ever seen here.It is absolutely within a nurse's scope to both educate the patient about their healthcare as well as to address barriers the patient may face in getting the appropriate care, this is why our role is generally defined as a patient advocate.