eHealth is ready to connect America
eHealth Views Passage of House Health Reform Bill as “Historic Step Toward Connecting All Americans to Coverage”
CNNMoney.com
November 8, 2009
Health Insurance Exchanges Are Key
The following is (from) a statement from Gary Lauer, chairman and CEO of eHealth, Inc., regarding tonights passage of the U.S. House of Representatives’ health reform legislation:
“eHealth’s experience over the past decade in connecting nearly two million Americans to coverage through our national online marketplace proves that exchanges do work. By employing multiple paths to coverage, including exchanges, and online solutions like ours, we can optimize enrollment and provide the uninsured with the most choices and flexibility.
“The technologies that have been developed by private sector players, such as eHealth, are key to ensuring Americans find and receive the coverage this legislation would mandate.
“eHealth looks forward to being an active partner in implementing meaningful health reform legislation, and is poised and ready to connect the uninsured to coverage quickly.”
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0556598.htm
eHealth is “Ready to Connect America to Coverage:”
http://www.ready2connect.org/
And…
H.R. 3962 - AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA ACT
SEC. 305. OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OF EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS IN EXCHANGE-PARTICIPATING HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN.
USE OF OTHER ENTITIES.—In carrying out this subsection, the Commissioner may work with other appropriate entities to facilitate the dissemination of information under this subsection and to provide assistance as described in paragraph (2).
From paragraph (2): ( C ) assist Exchange-eligible individuals in selecting Exchange-participating health benefits plans and obtaining benefits through such plans.
Comment:
By Don McCanne, MD
eHealth is ready to become the nation’s broker for private health insurance. Watching the two minute video at the “Ready to Connect” link above will demonstrate just how ambitious their plans are.
This is yet one more reason why the model of reform selected by Congress and the Obama administration is the most expensive of all. With all of the other wasteful administrative expenses, brokers’ fees are added on top, though often hidden in the premium as a commission rather than a fee.
Compare this to Medicare enrollment. The administrative costs for automatic enrollment in Medicare, at that only once in a lifetime, are negligible for the government and its taxpayers.
Imagine the simplicity and efficiency of automatic, lifetime Medicare enrollment at birth for everyone. But Congress won’t go there… not until the nation demands it.