Join us for the discussion from 1-2 Eastern, on June 7, 2012.

Excerpt from the interview:

Indu Subaiya: How do you think the world will change for consumers with these health insurance exchanges that we are anticipating? It certainly seems like a need for ConnectedHealth will be even greater as we look at the horizon.

Ann: We certainly believe the need is going to become greater and we have certainly seen this. Not just with the health insurance exchanges but with the fact that employers are talking more and more about shifting from a defined benefit to defined contribution, and creating an environment where the consumer has a pocket of money to deal with and is making decisions that best reflect the needs of their family and themselves at that point in time.

Indu Subaiya: Right, and that’s been a spectrum that’s been moving in that direction for a while now.

Ann: I think that regardless of what happens with the Supreme Court, the reality from our perspective is the retail focus and making things more understandable for consumers is going to expand.

Read more….

Employers face an ongoing challenge of managing rising costs and continuing to offer competitive benefits that meet employees’ needs. With the Defined Contribution Health benefits model, employers simply decide the funding model and budget, giving employees access to pre-tax funds to purchase their benefits.

The key to success is ensuring employees have the tools and guidance to help them select plans that fit their needs, preferences and budget. By helping employees take an active role in choosing their benefits and managing their costs, these plans are creating a generation of more informed and savvy health consumers.

Jeff Bakke – Chief Strategy Officer, Evolution1 and Joe Donlan – President, ConnectedHealth

The conference is at the Illinois Technology Association. Stop by and say hi if you’re there!

The Defined Contribution model is growing in popularity because of its effectiveness in helping employers lock in healthcare budgets and create real choices for employees. With the Defined Contribution approach, employers simply decide the funding model and budget. Employees have access to pre-tax funds to purchase health and other types of insurance, as well as other tax-sheltered plans.

The key to success is ensuring employees are given the tools to help them select plans that make the most sense for their unique circumstances. And, by helping employees take an active role in making decisions and managing costs, these plans are creating a generation of more informed and savvy health consumers.

Register today. Each complimentary webinar will last approximately one hour.

April 3, 2012, 1pm Central

or

April 19, 2012, 1pm Central

Speakers: Jeff Bakke, Chief Strategy Officer, Evolution1, Inc.
Joe Donlan, President, ConnectedHealth

For Immediate Release                                 

Providence Health Plan Sees 92 Percent Increase in Application Rate Using ConnectedHealth’s Web-Based Platform to Guide Members in Selecting Personalized Health Benefit Plans

• New Interactive Website Provides Personalized Plan Recommendation, Helps Prospective Members Compare Financial Risks
• Easy Comparisons Give Prospective Members Confidence in Their Decision

CHICAGO, IL – January 12, 2012 – ConnectedHealth, an innovative health insurance exchange platform for health insurers, employers, and consumers, today announced that Providence Health Plan, based in Beaverton, Oregon, has experienced a significant increase in its application rate for individual and family insurance plans. Providence Health Plan implemented ConnectedHealth’s new web-based platform, allowing consumers searching for individual and family health insurance to obtain personalized plan recommendations, based on their risk tolerance and personal preferences.

“We understand health insurance can be confusing and want to provide people in the communities we serve with the tools to help them navigate their health insurance options,” said Barbara Christensen, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Providence Health Plan. By using ConnectedHealth’s online plan selection tool, Christensen said “consumers understand their total financial exposure for all of our plan options. Equipped with that information, our consumers have the confidence and peace of mind that they are making the best decisions for their health and financial security.”

For Providence Health Plan, that consumer confidence has translated into a 92 percent increase in applications in just five months after implementation. ConnectedHealth’s Platform, including its proprietary Recommendation Engine, provides personalized plan recommendations based on the consumer’s own risk tolerance, personal preferences and budget. With this technology, consumers are able to think beyond their monthly insurance premium and focus on their entire financial cost, helping them to make smart choices when selecting their insurance. Consumers can also access ConnectedHealth’s Insurance Resource Center, offering intuitive, consumer-friendly information and insurance examples so they can better understand the complexities of health insurance.

“We are thrilled to have such great results so quickly for Providence Health Plan. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Providence Health Plan’s focus on being consumer-oriented,” said Joe Donlan, President of ConnectedHealth. “Providence Health Plan understands the evolution of the market and the importance of consumer empowerment, and its commitment to arming their members with the tools to help them select the right benefits plan ensures that their members make wise choices about their health and health care dollars.”

About Providence Health Plan
Providence Health Plans provides health care coverage services to almost 400,000 adults and children in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Providence focuses on improving the health of its members by creating access to high-quality programs and preventive services. Providence is recognized for its excellent customer service and its top-rated benefit plans. Providence Health Plans is part of Providence Health & Services – Oregon, the state’s largest network of health services and largest private employer. Visit www.providence.org/healthplans.

About ConnectedHealth
ConnectedHealth, based in Chicago, Illinois, is a provider of a new health insurance exchange decision-support platform for health insurers, employers, and consumers. The ConnectedHealth team has leveraged its deep experience in helping consumers make health care decisions to develop breakthrough technology guiding insurance purchasing decisions. For the first time, consumers can review personalized plan recommendations based on their expected out-of-pocket health care costs and on their personal and financial preferences. The Company’s innovative approach helps consumers to think beyond their monthly premium, so they are smarter about how to maximize their benefit dollars and protect themselves against their financial risk. To learn more, please visit, www.ConnectedHealth.com.

Contact:
Shannon Callaway
(800) 977-4204 x104
media@connectedhealth.com

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