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For Immediate Release
Date: June 06, 2024

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New Hampshire Department of Safety, Insurance Department, Other Stakeholders Address Dangers and Costs of Aggressive and Reckless Driving on New Hampshire Roadways

CONCORD, NH (June 14, 2024) – The New Hampshire Insurance Department is excited to announce the recent publication of significant updates to the NH HealthCost website, a comprehensive resource designed to empower consumers with transparent healthcare cost information. These enhancements mark a new frontier for NH HealthCost by adding prescription drugs to the platform, providing New Hampshire residents with the most up-to-date information to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Originally created by the New Hampshire Insurance Department in 2007, NH HealthCost uses paid claims data collected from New Hampshire’s health insurers to show patients, both insured and uninsured, estimated prices for specified health care procedures. Patients can access the total costs of their procedures, including physician fees, lab fees, facility fees, and prescriptions. This allows New Hampshire residents to find out potential charges and out-of-pocket costs and see how they vary among hospitals and outpatient facilities.

“The latest update to the NH HealthCost website incorporates the most recent data available to inform consumers of cost estimates, ensuring users receive the most accurate and timely information possible,” said Jason Aziz, PhD, Director of Health Economics at the New Hampshire Insurance Department. “Our goal is to empower consumers with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare, and these enhancements represent a significant step forward in achieving that objective.”

One of the standout features of this update is the addition of a series of interactive dashboards that provide detailed insights into prescription drug costs and utilization across the state. These dashboards offer valuable information, helping consumers understand and manage their healthcare expenses more effectively.

Additionally, the updated site now includes new hospital quality measures. These measures, which are standard CMS-reported metrics, provide users with important information about the performance of hospitals in New Hampshire. By including these quality measures, NH HealthCost enhances its role as a crucial tool for consumers seeking high-quality healthcare at competitive prices.

“Increasing transparency in healthcare pricing is a priority for the New Hampshire Insurance Department,” said Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt. “Transparency is critical to our free-market system, empowers consumers, and lowers costs. The enhanced NH HealthCost website, with its new features and updated data, represents our commitment to empowering consumers and fostering a more competitive healthcare market in the state.”

In an effort to support the community further, a new web resource will be available starting this Tuesday to help citizens learn about access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services in New Hampshire. This resource can be accessed through the NH HealthCost website, providing critical information to those seeking behavioral health and SUD services.

The NH HealthCost website is part of the New Hampshire Insurance Department's broader initiative to increase transparency in healthcare and ensure that residents have access to affordable, high-quality care. By providing clear and accurate cost information, the department aims to foster a more competitive healthcare market and reduce overall healthcare costs in the state.

For more information, visit https://nhhealthcost.nh.gov/.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department Can Help
The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s mission is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insurance coverage at 1‐800‐ 852‐3416 or (603) 271‐2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov. For more information, visit https://insurance.nh.gov.