End of COBRA Subsidy Special Enrollment Period: eHealthInsurance Provides COBRA Alternatives Video
Online Videos Outline Health Insurance Alternatives for the Unemployed
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 06/16/09 -- The special enrollment period for anyoneeligible for the COBRA subsidy that lost their job after September 1, 2008and before March 17, 2009 will end on June 17, 2009. This deadline onlyapplies to qualified former employees that were made aware of the subsidyon the Federal Government's final deadline date of April 17, 2009.
eHealthInsurance (http://www.ehealthinsurance.com) has posted a new videoseries on its YouTubepage, which outlines six health insurance options for the uninsured.
The seven videos cover the following topics:
1. Introduction to 6Health Insurance Options for the Unemployed
2. Option 1 -- YourSpouse or Partner's Plan
3. Options 2 and 3 -- COBRA and the COBRA Subsidy
4. Option 4 --Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans
5. Option 5 -- ShortTerm Health Insurance
6. Option 6 --Public Health Insurance Programs
7. Series Conclusion-- Where to go for help
Beginning in March, the federal stimulus package(1) provided employers withone month to reach out to former employees that had rejected COBRAinsurance (prior to the passing of the subsidy). Those employees were giventwo months to re-enroll in COBRA with subsidized coverage. The COBRAsubsidy covers 65 percent of a qualified ex-employee's COBRA insurancepremiums for up to nine months.
As the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families andsmall businesses, eHealthInsurance (www.ehealthinsurance.com) has designeda COBRA Learning Center (www.COBRALearning.com). Thelearning center provides detailed information about COBRA, the COBRAsubsidy, and alternatives to COBRA for individuals that may not qualify forCOBRA, or that cannot afford COBRA, even at the subsidized rate.
Individuals and employers with questions about the COBRA subsidy or who areinterested in eHealth's COBRA Alternatives Program can email requests forinformation to COBRAHelp@ehealth.com.
Free resources are available in the COBRA Learning Center atCOBRALearning.com. They include:
-- eHealthInsurance's video series on 6 health insurance options for theuninsured
-- An updated list of Frequently Asked Questions about COBRA and thesubsidy
-- COBRA Eligibility Guidelines
-- New Research on COBRA awareness, unemployment and health insurance
-- eHealthInsurance's a simple list of 6 health insurance options for theuninsured
Footnotes:
(1) Refers to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009
About eHealth, Inc.:
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) is the parent company of eHealthInsurance, thenation's leading online source of health insurance for individuals,families and small businesses. Through the company's website,http://www.ehealthinsurance.com, consumers can get quotes from leadinghealth insurance carriers, compare plans side by side, and apply for andpurchase health insurance. eHealthInsurance offers thousands of healthplans underwritten by more than 180 of the nation's health insurancecompanies. eHealthInsurance is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50states and the District of Columbia. eHealthInsurance and eHealth areregistered trademarks of eHealthInsurance Services, Inc.
For information about individual and family health insurance plans as analternative to COBRA, please contact:
-- A licensed eHealthInsurance agent at 1-800-977-8860
-- Or go online to www.COBRALearning.com
For information about public programs please contact:
-- The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) at 800-234-1317
-- Or go to their web site is www.coverageforall.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Nate Purpura
eHealth, Inc.
(805) 215-3336
nate.purpura@ehealth.com