Who are you going to call for help when it comes to figuring out your health insurance?
Next year, when insurance marketplaces open under the federal health law and many job-based and individual plans have to meet new standards for coverage and costs, chances are that lots of people are going to need a hand navigating the system.
Depending on where they live, some will probably have an easier time of it than others.
What states will do to help people vary widely. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have consumer assistance programs in place to handle questions and complaints about all aspects of private health insurance. The federal funds for these insurance helpers come through the Affordable Care Act.
