Objectives: The website www.HoustonHealthChoice.org was launched by the mayor of Houston in April 2008 to facilitate informed decision making among consumers seeking affordable health insurance plans. The objectives of this study were to explore consumers’ awareness of this website and to assess the perceived usefulness of available information from the consumer perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of consumers in the Houston area was conducted from December 2008 through April 2009 using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire to evaluate consumers’ awareness and perceived usefulness of the website. Participants irrespective of their awareness were requested to review the website using a provided laptop computer before responding to the questions that evaluated the website’s ease of use and perceived usefulness. English-speaking individuals were recruited from two primary locations, those at identified shopping centers in the Houston metropolitan area and those enrolled at the University of Houston. Results: A total of 201 completed surveys were received. A majority (80%) of the respondents were not aware of the website. Of those respondents without health insurance, 97% were unaware of this website. After reviewing the information on the website respondents indicated that information on the website was clear and easy to understand. They indicated that the website provided affordable insurance options available within self-specified price range and that the overall content of the website was useful in decision making for health insurance needs. They also indicated that the ‘frequently asked questions’ and ‘glossary of terms’ sections provided useful information. Conclusion: Although the website (HoustonHealthChoice.org) provided useful information and may facilitate access to affordable health insurance policies, most consumers may not be aware of its existence. The website should be promoted adequately to achieve its purpose. Promoting such websites may contribute toward effective delivery of health insurance information to the consumers in need.
