eHealth data identifies average premiums for non-group family health insurance plans in 46 states

eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, today released data from approximately 84,000 individually purchased, non-group, major medical family health insurance policies that were active in February of 2009.

The data identifies the average premiums for non-group family health insurance plans in 46 states and the District of Columbia. All policies surveyed were purchased through an online marketplace, eHealthInsurance.com (http://www.ehealthinsurance.com).

According to the research, the national average for individually purchased family health insurance premiums was $383. When compared to COBRA subsidy data released by Families USA on December 1, 2009, the eHealth research shows that the average family premiums of $383 is six dollars ($6) less than the average subsidized COBRA premium of $389, and $728 less than the average unsubsidized COBRA premium of $1,111.

eHealthInsurance.com encourages consumers who have lost their COBRA subsidies to explore all of their available health insurance options by taking the following actions:

1. Be proactive about seeking a long-term alternative to COBRA by researching your health insurance options at a place like eHealthInsurance.com.

2. If you've never purchased your own health insurance before, get help by contacting an agent or broker or by using free online resources like eHealth's "Health Insurance Buyer's Guide."

3. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, contact the Foundation for Health Coverage Education at http://www.CoverageForAll.org to determine what free and low-cost health care options are available to you in your area.

4. Calculate the amount of time you have remaining on the COBRA subsidy using eHealth's COBRA Subsidy Calendar widget.

5. 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.

Price is an important element of health insurance, however the benefits provided by a health insurance policy are also a critical component of any coverage purchased. The data in the eHealth, Inc. report also reviews benefits standards and shows that the plans that families elected to purchase provided access to many important benefits. They include Labs & X-rays (99.1 percent); E.R. visits (99.9 percent); prescription drugs (86.9 percent); OB/GYN coverage (95.6 percent); periodic exams (90.0 percent); Well Baby coverage (87.7 percent); and chiropractic care (75.0 percent).

Maternity benefits were covered in 22.1% of policies surveyed, with nearly half (46.6 percent) of primary policy holders being women. Seven states (NY, NJ, MA, MT, MN, OR and WA) mandate that every non-group major medical insurance policy sold cover maternity benefits. In most other states maternity coverage is an optional benefit consumers can elect to purchase if needed. In some areas maternity benefits may not have been available.

SOURCE: eHealth, Inc