Dec 28 2009
Today, eHealthInsurance.com (NASDAQ: EHTH), the leading online source of health insurance for
individuals, families and small businesses, released data comparing
non-group health insurance premiums for policies available at eHealth in
the state of Florida, and subsidized COBRA premiums for people in Florida.
Data indicate non-group Florida health insurance premiums for individuals and
families available at eHealthInsurance.com are comparable to subsidized
COBRA. While premiums are important, the benefits provided are critically
important when gauging the value of coverage purchased.
The eHealth data show that, nation-wide, plans purchased by individuals
and families included Labs & X-rays (99.0 percent); E.R. visits (99.9
percent); prescription drugs (89.6 percent); OB/GYN coverage (93.0
percent); periodic exams (89.5 percent); Well Baby coverage (87.7 percent);
and chiropractic care (74.2 percent). Maternity benefits were covered in
22.1% of policies surveyed, with nearly half (46.6 percent) of primary
policy holders being women. In Florida, maternity coverage is not a
mandatory benefit in the private, non-group health insurance market.
eHealthInsurance's findings, released on December 9, 2009, are based on a
nationwide sample of over 316,000 non-group, individual and family (IFP)
major medical policies that were purchased through eHealthInsurance.com and
were active in February 2009, including 15,449 active policies surveyed in
Florida.
These findings, alongside October 2009 data from Families USA reports in
January and December of 2009, provide a helpful comparison of average
monthly premiums for COBRA, subsidized COBRA and non-group health insurance
options in Florida:
Florida Average Monthly Average Monthly Average Monthly
Individual COBRA Subsidized COBRA Premium Non-Group
Premium, Premium Individual Health
Insurance Plan
Individual $371 $130 $162
Family $1,147 $402 $354
eHealthInsurance.com encourages consumers who are losing access to their
COBRA subsidies to proactively research their long-term options for health
coverage by taking the following actions:
- Do your homework: Research non-group health insurance policies
at eHealthInsurance.com.
- Get advice if you need it: First-time buyers should get help by
contacting an agent or broker and by using free online resources like
eHealth's "Health Insurance Buyer's
Guide."
- Know your timeline: Calculate the amount of time you have
remaining on the COBRA subsidy using eHealth's COBRA Subsidy Calendar widget.
- Don't let pre-existing conditions scare you: If you've got
pre-existing medical conditions talk to a licensed insurance agent or
contact the Foundation for Health Coverage Education (www.CoverageForAll.org) to review free or low-cost options available
in your area.
- Get informed: If you have medical debt or need help
understanding your rights, eHealth encourages you to review Families USA's
consumer guide: Your Medical Bills: A
Consumer's Guide to Coping with Medical Debt.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided a 65
percent COBRA subsidy designed to help cover the cost of COBRA health
insurance premiums for up to nine months. On December 21, 2009, a six
month extension of the subsidy was passed and eligibility for the subsidy
was extended through February 2010.
SOURCE: eHealth, Inc.