Tell Me, What is E Health Up to Here?

[HealthGuy]

Is this good news for health brokers in general, or just E Health? This article on selling in exchanges is confusing:

EHealth-Led Exchanges Eye $4 Billion Market in Health Law - Bloomberg

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Temporarily...Good news for both. Just my opinion.

 

[Yagents]

HHS guidance basically allows web broker portals to be a "window" to the state exchanges and the exchange products. Lots of compliance and technology expertise involved considering you may have access to all of the clients personal info (taxes, felonies, legal status, etc). And / Or, a web broker can set up private exchanges similar to these , and sell products outside the state run exchange. Ehealth gave up on working with the gov't after the headache/cost analysis was done. HHS did not renew contract for HHS.gov. They pivoted a little to hock their exchange technology to states directly. Now, this offers a trump card for them to offer insurance products again via the exchanges no matter what technology the states choose.

"The administration nonetheless cited other parts of the legislation to open the way for web brokers."

Here is your chance to remove the current king of online insurance.

 

[Guest]

Nuts I tell you! Give me a break!

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

EHealth must love penguins. They were always a challenge in the rankings and they are a bit tougher now. But as John Belushi always said... When the tough...

 

[somarco]

I fail to see the logic in buying outside of the exchange. You lose the promised tax credit and run the risk of a penalty for having a plan that is not in compliance with govt guidelines.

 

[Yagents]

There are millions that won't receive a tax credit, especially middle income and above in wealthy states, or they expect to make more money in coming year and don't want to deal with an exchange subsidy "clawback", or they just don't want anything to do with the governments' inefficient exchange.

If an insurance company wants to offer an EHB plan in the exchange, they must also offer it outside the exchange.

EHTH is quite excited about the new HHS regs allowing web brokers to participate, but it comes with a whole bunch of handcuffs and must do's that only the big tech companies will be able to achieve. Listen to recent conf call: eHealthInsurance.com Investor Relations

 

[somarco]

Millions who do not qualify for a tax break? Possibly, but then there is the penalty tax for having a non-compliant policy.

 

[ABC]

Millions who do not qualify for a tax break? Possibly, but then there is the penalty tax for having a non-compliant policy.

I am not sure about the definition of a qualified plan.

A lot of people will not buy from the exchange because of cost.

The metal plans inside exchange will be extremely expensive.
A family of 4 could very easily be around $20,000-$30,000 a year in the exchange.

Outside the exchange and you pick up a family HSA plan for $12,000.

 

[Dave020]

I am not sure about the definition of a qualified plan.

A lot of people will not buy from the exchange because of cost.

The metal plans inside exchange will be extremely expensive.
A family of 4 could very easily be around $20,000-$30,000 a year in the exchange.

Outside the exchange and you pick up a family HSA plan for $12,000.

At least in California, only precious metals plans both inside and outside of the exchange. No price reducing outside of the exchange to rates less than inside.