FAIR Health® Launches Spanish-Language Version of Consumer Website, Expanding Access to Comprehensive Healthcare Cost Information

Medical and Dental Costs and Consumer Information Presented in Spanish

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FAIR Health, the independent not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and out-of-network reimbursement, has launched the Spanish-language version of FH Consumer Cost Lookup® (consumidor.fairhealth.org or fairhealthconsumer.org). The free Spanish-language consumer website will help more people better manage their healthcare costs by providing free, independent and transparent health insurance information.

“The Spanish-language version of our website is an important step in FAIR Health's work to bring transparency and objectivity to healthcare reimbursement and provide consumers with the information they need to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenses.”

Both the English- and Spanish-language versions of the FH Consumer Cost Lookup enable individual consumers to search and evaluate cost estimates for user-selected medical and dental procedures and services by geographic area. The tool also allows consumers to estimate the amount that an insurer will reimburse for services received out-of-network. Uninsured individuals can use the tool to obtain an estimate of the full cost of procedures in their geographic area.

The cost information offered through the FAIR Health site is particularly relevant for people who speak predominantly Spanish. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, a very large number of Hispanics, particularly foreign-born, are uninsured for healthcare. The Center also notes that, based on 2008 census data, people of Hispanic descent are twice as likely as the overall U.S. population to lack health insurance coverage, which makes them more likely to pay out-of-pocket for necessary care.

"The core mission of FAIR Health is to ensure that all consumers have access to medical and dental price information, as well as easy-to-understand guides to the reimbursement process, to help them navigate and control their experience with the healthcare system," FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd said. "The Spanish-language version of our website is an important step in FAIR Health's work to bring transparency and objectivity to healthcare reimbursement and provide consumers with the information they need to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenses."

In addition to medical and dental cost data, the FAIR Health website features user-friendly guides in both English and Spanish to help consumers understand and navigate the complexities of healthcare reimbursement. A central feature of the site is the FAIR Health Reimbursement 101 series, an original, easy-to-understand healthcare “syllabus” designed to help consumers navigate the health insurance landscape. Sample chapters in the series include: The Alphabet Soup of Health Plans, Out-of-Network Docs at In-Network Hospitals, and Understanding Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) Form.

The FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup tools are powered by a proprietary database that is the most comprehensive set of private healthcare claims in the nation. It currently includes nearly 15 billion billed claims for medical and dental procedures performed since 2002. Healthcare cost data are available for each of approximately 500 geographic regions nationwide, providing consumers with the ability to see rates specific to their area rather than relying on national averages.

About FAIR Health

FAIR Health is a national, independent, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to bring transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through comprehensive data products, consumer resources and support of scientific and economic research on medical and dental care. FAIR Health uses its database of billions of billed medical and dental services to power a free website (fairhealthconsumer.org) that enables consumers to estimate and plan their medical and dental expenditures. The website also offers clear, unbiased educational articles and videos about the health insurance reimbursement system. In addition to its consumer offerings, FAIR Health licenses data products to businesses, governmental agencies, healthcare providers and researchers. With its professional staff of experts in healthcare, statistics, technology and communications, FAIR Health strives to offer accurate, consistent and timely information to all stakeholders in the healthcare system.