Nancy Turnbull on Seals

Ensuring the success of the state’s health reform law is serious business: being without health insurance is unhealthy: for individuals, families, communities, and our state. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to have some laughs along the way.

After all, even the most dedicated follower of health reform can’t be sustained by arcane health policy conversation alone.

An opportunity for creativity is fast approaching: the requirement that the Connector give its “seal of approval” to health insurance products that “provide good value to the consumer” and “offer high quality.” The law does not require the Connector to design an actual seal (i.e., an emblem or symbol). But, since a picture is worth a thousand words, and health insurance is very confusing, why not give consumers some visual aides to help navigate the new health reform landscape?

In the spirit of civic engagement, I have come up with a few ideas. I invite you to send in your own.

#5: Finally, a classic seal

Nancy Turnbull, Harvard School of Public Health