This package of Health Affairs articles led by Buntin, Yegian et al., focuses on the effects of consumer-directed health plans. It includes results from a 2005 roundtable and expert perspectives.

Two reports examine the types of tools available to consumers making health care decisions, including online cost comparison tools. They explore the effectiveness of these tools and offer strategies for promoting their widespread use.

This Health Affairs study by Marquis et al. examines the impact that cutting premiums would have on the individual market for health insurance. The analysis finds price subsidies have only modest effects on increasing overall participation and reducing the number of uninsured people.

This report found that people who shop for pricing information and financial assistance at California hospitals have a difficult time getting answers. Mystery shoppers posed as uninsured patients needing prices for elective procedures at 64 hospitals.

This snapshot highlights key findings from a study of consumer decision-making in the individual insurance market in California, examining a range of issues and exploring the potential effect of public policies on the individual market.

This Health Affairs article by Robinson explores a potential direction for the health care system that blends the patient-centered focus of consumer-driven care with the provider-centered focus of managed competition.

This report distills the latest research on how consumers make health care choices and offers practical tactics for supporting their decision-making.

This issue brief examines opportunities for greater integration of consumer health information with other clinical information systems and explores how consumer health information data standards may help.

Confronted with double-digit health care premium increases, employers are turning to high-deductible health plans, tiered benefit designs, and information tools that shift greater financial responsibility and decision-making to employees.

These Harris Interactive surveys examine the impact of health insurance market changes on California employers and consumers and highlight the chronically ill.

This Health Affairs article by Schur et al. finds that consumers are willing to accept limits on health care service use in exchange for lower costs.

This study found that low-income Californians are more likely than other low-income Americans to go online to search for health information.

This issue brief examines the difficult spending decisions confronting many California families and shows that spending for basic needs leaves little room for discretionary items such as health insurance.

Through interviews and a literature review, this report explores the strengths and weaknesses of consumer surveys for culturally and linguistically diverse populations and makes recommendations for improvement.

Results of a Field Institute poll show that voters would favor a number of possible tax increase alternatives to avoid making major cutbacks in medical care services to low-income and disabled Californians.