Today eHealth, Inc. released a new comparison of subsidized individual COBRA premiums and non-group health insurance premiums for individuals using data derived from eHealth's December 2009 Cost and Benefits Report(1) and a Families USA Foundation report released in January 2009.
The data in the eHealth (www.ehealthinsurance.com) report, when compared to COBRA subsidy data released by Families USA on January 9, 2009, show that the average individual premium of $161 is twenty-five dollars ($25) more expensive than the average subsidized COBRA premium of $136, and $227 less than the average unsubsidized COBRA premium of $388.
Premiums are an important element of health insurance policy, but the benefits provided by that policy are critical to gauging the value of any coverage purchased. According to the data in the eHealth report, the plans that individuals elected to purchase provided access to many important benefits. They include Labs & X-rays (99.0 percent); E.R. visits (99.9 percent); prescription drugs (89.6 percent); OB/GYN coverage (93.0 percent); periodic exams (89.5 percent); Well Baby coverage (87.7 percent); and chiropractic care (74.2 percent).
Maternity benefits were covered in 22.1% of policies surveyed, with nearly half (46.6 percent) of primary policy holders being women. Seven states (NY, NJ, MA, MT, MN, OR and WA) mandate that every non-group major medical insurance policy sold cover maternity benefits. In most other states maternity coverage is an optional benefit consumers can elect to purchase if needed. Maternity benefits are not always available in every state.
To view a full copy of eHealth's Cost and Benefits of Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans
2009 report, click here. You can also search for the report by name at news.ehealthinsurance.com.
eHealthInsurance.com encourages consumers who are losing access to their COBRA subsidies to proactively research their long-term options for health coverage by taking the following actions:
-- Do your homework: Research non-group health insurance policies
at eHealthInsurance.com.
-- Get advice if you need it: First-time buyers should get help by
contacting an agent or broker and by using free online resources like
eHealth's "Health Insurance Buyer's Guide."
-- Know your timeline: Calculate the amount of time you have
remaining on the COBRA subsidy using eHealth's COBRA Subsidy Calendar widget.
-- Don't let pre-existing conditions scare you: If you've got
pre-existing medical conditions contact the Foundation for Health Coverage
Education (www.CoverageForAll.org) to review
free or low-cost options available in your area.
-- Get informed: If you have medical debt or need help
understanding your rights, eHealth encourages you to review Families USA's
consumer guide: Your Medical Bills: A Consumer's
Guide to Coping with Medical Debt.
The data identifies the average premiums for COBRA, subsidized COBRA and non-group individual health insurance plans in 46 states and the District of Columbia. All non-group policies surveyed were purchased through the leading online market place of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, eHealthInsurance.com (http://www.ehealthinsurance.com).
Average Monthly
Premium
Non-Group
Average Monthly Average Monthly Individual
Individual Subsidized Health
COBRA COBRA Insurance
State Premium(1) Premium(2) Plan(3)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Average Individual $ 388 $ 136 $ 161
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Alabama $ 372 $ 130 $ 122
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Alaska $ 428 $ 150 $ 182
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Arizona $ 403 $ 141 $ 139
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Arkansas $ 336 $ 118 $ 117
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California $ 380 $ 133 $ 150
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Colorado $ 379 $ 133 $ 145
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Connecticut $ 415 $ 145 $ 188
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Delaware $ 444 $ 155 $ 151
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D.C. $ 428 $ 150 $ 144
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Florida $ 371 $ 130 $ 162
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Georgia $ 365 $ 128 $ 166
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*Hawaii $ 334 $ 117 NA
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Idaho $ 337 $ 118 $ 122
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Illinois $ 400 $ 140 $ 147
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Indiana $ 376 $ 132 $ 140
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Iowa $ 369 $ 129 $ 103
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Kansas $ 361 $ 126 $ 119
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Kentucky $ 357 $ 125 $ 117
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Louisiana $ 371 $ 130 $ 140
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*Maine $ 439 $ 154 NA
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Maryland $ 370 $ 130 $ 148
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*Massachusetts $ 419 $ 147 NA
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Michigan $ 419 $ 147 $ 123
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Minnesota $ 375 $ 131 $ 134
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Mississippi $ 349 $ 122 $ 150
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Missouri $ 373 $ 131 $ 121
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Montana $ 391 $ 137 $ 158
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Nebraska $ 367 $ 128 $ 132
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Nevada $ 338 $ 118 $ 166
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New Hampshire $ 436 $ 153 $ 182
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New Jersey $ 421 $ 147 $ 274
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New Mexico $ 380 $ 133 $ 136
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New York $ 434 $ 152 $ 339
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North Carolina $ 380 $ 133 $ 140
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*North Dakota $ 357 $ 125 NA
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Ohio $ 382 $ 134 $ 126
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Oklahoma $ 374 $ 131 $ 133
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Oregon $ 388 $ 136 $ 167
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Pennsylvania $ 403 $ 141 $ 155
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*Rhode Island $ 433 $ 152 NA
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South Carolina $ 378 $ 132 $ 149
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South Dakota $ 371 $ 130 $ 137
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Tennessee $ 353 $ 124 $ 148
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Texas $ 390 $ 137 $ 164
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Utah $ 363 $ 127 $ 125
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*Vermont $ 407 $ 142 NA
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Virginia $ 386 $ 135 $ 154
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Washington $ 382 $ 134 $ 185
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West Virginia $ 410 $ 144 $ 171
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Wisconsin $ 400 $ 140 $ 129
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Wyoming $ 434 $ 152 $ 146
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(1) SOURCE: eHealth, Inc.'s 2009 Report: The Cost and Benefits of Individual and Family Health Insurance Plans Report: Surveys approximately 233,000 major medical, non-group individual plans that were active in February, (http://news.ehealthinsurance.com/pr/ehi/document/Cost_and_Benefit_Rep ort_2009.pdf) Families USA Foundation's January 2009 report: Squeezed! Caught between Unemployment Benefits And Health Care Costs:http://www.familiesusa.org/resources/newsroom/press-releases/2009-press -releases/cobra-premiums-for-family.html Calculated by multiplying the state-level COBRA premiums provided in the Families USA Foundation report(2) by 0.35.
About eHealth eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is the parent company of eHealthInsurance, the nation's leading online source of health insurance for individ
