Ask an Advisor Answers

Question: Good Afternoon, My non-profit pays for patient's premiums and helps them apply for Marketplace insurance coverage. In addition to the loss of enhanced premium tax credits, in my state - the Office of Insurance Regulation approved a 35% increase in premium costs. I would like to propose/draft a policy change in my state and give these materials to a partner org that advocates for non-profits on the hill. Would you have any resources relating to state-level bi-partisan public health policy development? I specifically would like guidance on formatting the proposal.
Answer:

Hello,

 

Thank you for reaching out and for your work supporting access to health coverage in your community. While the Community Toolbox (CTB) cannot provide state-specific legal or regulatory guidance, we can share general, community-focused resources related to public policy development and advocacy that may be useful as you think through next steps.

At a broad level, developing a policy proposal is a common community change strategy, particularly when organizations are working to address systemic barriers affecting access to health care. The CTB includes resources on understanding public policy, building advocacy strategies, and communicating policy ideas clearly and effectively to decision-makers and partner organizations. You may find the following sections especially helpful:

  • Chapter 25: Changing Policies – offers an overview of how community groups engage in policy change efforts, including identifying policy problems, developing alternatives, and working with advocacy partners.
  • Chapter 24: Influencing Public Policy – includes guidance on framing issues in ways that resonate across stakeholders and political perspectives.
  • Chapter 8: Developing a Strategic Plan – provides tools for clarifying goals, defining the problem, and outlining proposed solutions in a structured way that can translate well into policy briefs or proposals.
  • Chapter 43: Writing and Editing – includes general guidance on organizing written materials clearly for different audiences, which can be helpful when preparing policy summaries or background documents.

In practice, many organizations prepare policy briefs or issue summaries rather than formal legislative language. These documents typically include: a clear description of the problem, evidence of community impact, a proposed policy approach, and anticipated benefits. Advocacy partners or policy coalitions are often best positioned to adapt these materials to specific legislative or regulatory contexts.

We encourage you to continue working closely with advocacy organizations and policy experts within your state who can ensure alignment with current laws and regulatory processes. We hope these CTB resources are helpful as you approach this work from a community change and systems-level perspective.

 

Warm regards,
CTB Contributor

Question Date: Thu, 01/08/2026