Kingsdale Article on Health Insurance Exchanges

The New England Journal of Medicine has recently published an article on health insurance exchanges, penned by Jon Kingsdale, PhD, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority.  Mr. Kingsdale asserts, plain and simply, that exchanges sell insurance and that a failure to enroll enough people is essentially a failure to achieve an exchange's core mission.  Exchanges were included in the recently passed health reform legislation - and experience widespread bipartisan agreement - because they facilitate a marketplace of managed competition where consumers can easily comparison shop for health insurance plans that fit their needs and budget.  In addition, exchanges offer administrative savings, a choice of high-value health plans, transparency in quality and price, and the ability to determine one's eligibility for subsidies and/or tax credits.

HealthPass, NYBGH's subsidiary health insurance exchange runs a similar exchange model except that it has focused on providing quality, affordable options to small businesses for over ten years.  The Massachusetts Connector, in contrast, first concentrated on enrolling eligible individuals and have only recently begun their efforts to increase the number of small businesses that offer health benefits.

Click here to access the full article.

HealthPass - Health Insurance Exchange with Choice and at the Heart of Reform

In a newly released edition of the Commonwealth Fund's Purchasing High Performance newsletter, HealthPass, NYBGH's subsidiary health insurance exchange, is cited as one of only a few health insurance exchanges around the country.  A hot topic now that federal health reform has passed, health insurance exchanges like HealthPass provide small employers with choice and flexibility of plans, extensive provider networks, and an organization that works to make offering health benefits hassle-free.

Operating for over 10 years in downstate New York, HealthPass has expanded to over 35,000 members and now offers 25 medical plans along with a number of ancillary products and advocacy services to small businesses and sole proprietors.  Quoted in the article are both Vince Ashton, HealthPass Executive Director as well as Laurel Pickering, NYBGH Executive Director and Chair of the HealthPass board of directors.

Click here to read the complete article.

HealthPass to Offer Oxford Small Group

HealthPass, a health insurance exchange serving small businesses and sole proprietors, is now offering UnitedHealthcare's Oxford small group plans. Eligible employers must have 2-50 workers and can enroll immediately for coverage effective April 1, 2010. Oxford sole proprietor plans will still continue to be offered through HealthPass.

An innovative partnership between the New York Business Group on Health, the City of New York and the health insurance industry, HealthPass provides small businesses with an array of Fortune 500-quality healthcare options through an insurance exchange.

HealthPass enables eligible employees of small businesses to individually choose a healthcare plan that fits their medical needs and budgets. There are more than 25 different coverage options from New York's leading carriers - EmblemHealth, GHI, HIP Health Plan of New York and Oxford - as well as two dental plans and a bundled product offered through Guardian. With more than 200,000 providers, HealthPass affords greater network access than any single plan. For more information, please visit www.healthpass.com

Health Insurance Exchanges - Point, Counterpoint

Today's USA Today provides a point counterpoint take on the proposed health insurance exchanges in the pending health reform legislation. As both chambers of Congress head into committee to resolve differences between the two pieces of legislation, health insurance exchanges seem to be a mainstay, but intergovernmental issues are at issue. Some argue that state-based exchanges are the way to go, while others rail that one federal-based exchange would be best suited for best meeting the legislation's intent.

To access the pro-state-based argument, click here. The pro-federal-based argument can be found by clicking here.

For more information on HealthPass, a health insurance exchange in downstate New York operating for more than 10 years and covering more than 30,000 lives, click here.

HealthPass in Crain's New York Business

This week's Crain's New York Business features NYBGH subsidiary HealthPass in its Executive Inbox section. HealthPass is a health insurance exchange with a 10-year track record of providing affordable health insurance and quality customer service to small businesses in NYC, Long Island, Westchester County, Putnam County, Rockland County, and Dutchess County. One legal and structural component central to the success of HealthPass has been New York State's community rating law.

Find the complete article by clicking here.

HealthPass in Wall Street Journal

In the October 14th edition of the Wall Street Journal, NYBGH subsidiary HealthPass gets a nod in a front page story. The article, as part of the Healthy Consumer series, profiles a number of businesses facing changes to their health benefits offerings this year as costs continue to rise and the consequences for their employees.

Find the article at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703790404574471290259603238.html

Visit HealthPass at: http://www.healthpass.com/

HealthPass Celebrates 10th Anniversary

HealthPass, an NYC-based health insurance exchange and a subsidiary of NYBGH, this week celebrates its tenth year in operation. Offering small businesses quality, affordable group health coverage, HealthPass was created 10 years ago through a partnership between NYBGH, the City of New York, and the health insurance industry.

The press release can be found at: http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Healthpass-1046432.html