An analysis of health insurance plans available at eHealth.com for the 2019 enrollment season shows that the average consumer will find more choices and more savings

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – November 19, 2018 – According to an analysis of Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans offered by eHealth (NASDAQ: EHTH) for 2018 and 2019, the average lowest price of a Bronze-level health insurance plan is down in 22 of 41 states, and Washington D.C.¹. This is the first time eHealth has recorded such a broad drop in monthly prices for health insurance since major provisions of the ACA went into full effect in January of 2014.

Across 41 states (plus DC) surveyed, the average price of the cheapest ACA plan available (typically Bronze) was down 2 percent from last year, although 19 states had price increases. The number of health insurance plans that customers may choose from at eHealth has increased 29 percent from the same time last year. eHealth also found that the monthly cost of HMO plans was down 3 percent from 2018, with an average monthly savings of $12, but the monthly cost of a PPO plan was up 2 percent, or $9 per month.

In its analysis, eHealth reviewed major medical ACA-compliant health insurance plans available for enrollment at eHealth.com. eHealth reviewed the number of plans offered and the average lowest price of any Bronze plan available by state, as well as the lowest average price for HMO plans and PPO plans. All prices were calculated for a 40-year-old adult living in the state.

Data on Monthly Costs for Lowest-Cost Bronze Plan on the eHealth.com Marketplace

In the 41 states (plus D.C.) where eHealth offered ACA health insurance plans for both 2018 and 2019, the average lowest price of a 2019 Bronze health insurance plan for a 40-year-old is down 2 percent. The average annual savings is $96. In 22 of the 41 states (plus DC), the average lowest price for a 2019 Bronze plan is down by $38.95 per month, or $467 per year.

 

Decreases in Lowest-Priced Bronze plans at eHealth for 2019, Sorted by State Size:
Texas, price down $64 New York, price down $82 Pennsylvania, price down $39 Ohio, price down $5 Georgia, price down $63 Arizona, price down $38 Indiana, price down $66 Missouri, price down $23 Maryland, price down $2 Wisconsin, price down $67 Alabama, price down $41	Kentucky, price down $38 Louisiana, price down $66 Oklahoma, price down $3 Iowa, price down $66 Utah, price down $6 Nevada, price down $1 New Mexico, price down $1 Nebraska, price down $34 New Hampshire, price down $100 Montana, price down $5 Alaska, price down $58

 

Data on Monthly Costs for Lowest-Cost HMO Plans on the eHealth.com Marketplace

In the 29 states where eHealth offered ACA-compliant HMO–style health insurance plans for both 2018 and 2019, the average lowest price of a Bronze HMO plan is down 3 percent on average from 2018 for a 40-year-old. The average annual savings is $150. In 19 of the 29 states, the average lowest price for an HMO-style plan is down $37.46 per month, or $449 per year.

 

Decreases in Lowest-Priced HMO plans at eHealth for 2019, Sorted by State Size:
Texas, price down $57 Florida, price down $7 New York, price down $19 Pennsylvania, price down $103 Illinois, price down $15 Georgia, price down $33 Michigan, price down $7 New Jersey, price down $86 Arizona, price down $89 Massachusetts, price down $11	Maryland, price down $39 Connecticut, price down $30 Wisconsin, price down $70 Kentucky, price down $2 Utah, price down $14 Arkansas, price down $7 Nevada, price down $3 New Hampshire, price down $58 Montana, price down $80

 

Data on the Increase of Health Insurance Plans Available at the eHealth.com Marketplace

eHealth is offering major medical health insurance plans in 48 states and the District of Columbia for 2019, an increase from 2018 when eHealth only offered major medical health insurance plans in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

 

In the 44 states (plus D.C) where eHealth sold major medical health insurance plans in both 2018 and 2019, the selection of plans available has increased from an average of 160 plans per state in 2018 to 189 per state in 2019. Of the states surveyed, plan selection was higher in 22 states. Plan selection was equal to 2018 in four states and lower in 17 states.  On average, in the states that added new plans, there were 225 plans for customers to choose from. By comparison, in states that lost plans there were 133 plans for customers to choose from on average.
 

States Adding New Plans at eHealth for 2019, Sorted by State Size:
Texas, an additional 329 plans Florida, an additional 129 plans Pennsylvania, an additional 283 plans Ohio, an additional 218 plans Michigan, an additional 11 plans New Jersey, an additional 5 plans Virginia, an additional 45 plans Massachusetts, an additional 11 plans Tennessee, an additional 169 plans Missouri, an additional 84 plans Minnesota, an additional 95 plans	South Carolina, an additional 62 plans Oregon, an additional 15 plans Oklahoma, an additional 66 plans Iowa, an additional 12 plans Utah, an additional 25 plans Kansas, an additional 329 plans New Mexico, an additional 48 plans Nebraska, an additional 19 plans Montana, an additional 52 plans South Dakota, an additional 9 plans North Dakota, an additional 50 plans

 

Average Monthly Premium (for a 40-Year-Old) for Lowest Cost Bronze Plan at eHealth, by State

States	2018	2019	% Change
AK	$527.00	$468.50	-11%
AL	$387.93	$346.31	-11%
AR	$297.17	$322.19	8%
AZ	$444.48	$406.29	-9%
CA	$296.23	$331.03	12%
CO	$371.77	$381.22	3%
CT	$411.50	$466.99	13%
DC	$302.32	$342.69	13%
FL	$312.01	$339.58	9%
GA	$420.13	$355.90	-15%
IA	$574.52	$507.65	-12%
ID	$319.76	$357.21	12%
IL	$426.52	$428.75	1%
IN	$265.70	$234.53	-12%
KS	$436.63	$449.34	3%
KY	$334.28	$296.01	-11%
LA	$428.82	$362.61	-15%
MD	$409.61	$408.15	0%
MI	$281.79	$285.73	1%
MN	$281.90	$317.88	13%
MO	$462.58	$438.95	-5%
MT	$467.62	$461.97	-1%
ND	$331.32	$393.17	19%
NE	$524.76	$490.10	-7%
NH	$435.85	$328.88	-25%
NM	$376.44	$374.71	0%
NV	$295.97	$294.96	0%
NY	$421.61	$339.01	-20%
OH	$321.02	$315.76	-2%
OK	$433.64	$430.82	-1%
OR	$311.01	$329.98	6%
PA	$402.67	$362.88	-10%
SC	$326.70	$356.83	9%
SD	$385.98	$387.55	0%
TN	$363.72	$406.66	12%
TX	$429.26	$364.75	-15%
UT	$316.00	$309.58	-2%
VA	$475.65	$491.50	3%
WA	$319.39	$364.90	14%
WI	$422.15	$354.73	-16%
WY	$556.83	$561.35	1%
All State Average	$388.05	$379.70	-2%

¹ eHealth had plans available for sale in Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Jersey during the 2018 and 2019 open enrollment period, but eHealth did not have Bronze plans available in these states in both years consecutively, which is why Hawaii, Massachusetts and New Jersey were excluded from the analysis on pricing.

Average prices do not indicate monthly premiums available for any specific plan or plan applicant.  Monthly premiums depend on geographic area, age, and other factors.  Not all plans in a state are necessarily available to all residents of that state, and not all plans available in a state are necessarily available through eHealth.

# # #

About eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, a leading private online health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from brand-name insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online and over the phone. eHealth offers thousands of individual, family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the nation's leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources, exceptional telephonic support, and powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and enroll in select plans online or over the phone through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com), GoMedigap (www.goMedigap.com) and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).