Editorial Policy

Our Sources

We use official and authoritative references for all factual claims:

• Government Sources: HealthCare.gov, CMS.gov, HHS.gov for enrollment timing, program guidance, and official policy information.
• State Insurance Departments: State-specific rules, rate filings, and marketplace information from official state insurance regulatory agencies.
• Hospital Transparency Data: Published hospital pricing files as required by federal price transparency regulations (effective January 2021).
• Research Organizations: Non-partisan research from organizations like the Kaiser Family Foundation for trend analysis and independent verification.

We do not cite Wikipedia, social media, or anonymous sources for healthcare cost or policy information.

Content Standards

Every piece of content on USHealthCosts.com adheres to the following standards:

Content Review Process

All content goes through a multi-step review before publication:

1. Research: Data is gathered from primary sources and verified for accuracy.
2. Drafting: Content is written with clear structure and plain language.
3. Fact-Check: All claims are verified against source documents. Cost figures are checked for reasonableness.
4. Editorial Review: Content is reviewed for clarity, completeness, and adherence to our standards.
5. Publication: Content is published with appropriate disclaimers and source citations.

Update Policy

Healthcare policy and pricing change frequently. We maintain the following update schedule:

• Scheduled Reviews: All state pages are reviewed during Open Enrollment (November-January) when new plan year data is available.
• Policy Updates: When CMS or state agencies announce significant policy changes, we update affected content within 30 days.
• Last Updated Dates: Each page displays a "Last Updated" or "Last Reviewed" date so users know when content was most recently verified.
• Proactive Monitoring: We subscribe to CMS announcements and state insurance department newsletters to stay informed of changes.

Corrections Policy

If we make an error, we correct it promptly and transparently:

• Minor Corrections: Typos, formatting issues, and minor clarifications are fixed without notation.
• Substantive Corrections: Errors in cost figures, policy information, or facts are corrected with a clear correction notice explaining what was changed.
• Reporting Errors: If you find an error, please email editor@ushealthcosts.com. We review and respond to correction requests within 5 business days.

Advertising & Sponsorship Policy

We maintain strict separation between advertising and editorial content:

• No Sponsored Content: We do not accept payment to feature specific insurance plans, healthcare providers, or companies in our editorial content.
• No Affiliate Relationships: We do not earn commissions from insurance companies or receive payment for leads generated through our site.
• Clear Advertising Labels: All advertisements are clearly labeled as "Advertisement" and visually distinguished from editorial content.
• No Editorial Influence: Advertisers have no input on our content, rankings, or recommendations.
• Ad Content Standards: We use Google AdSense and comply with their advertising policies. We do not control which specific ads appear, but we do not accept ads that we believe are misleading.

What We Don't Do

To maintain our independence and focus on education:

• We do not sell insurance policies or provide personalized insurance recommendations.
• We do not provide medical advice or recommend specific treatments or providers.
• We do not collect or sell personal health information.
• We do not guarantee that our cost estimates will match your actual experience.