eHealth Publishes Short-Term Health Insurance eBook as Applications for Short-Term Health Plans Surge Over 130% at eHealth.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA --(Marketwired - June 04, 2015) - Today eHealth, Inc. EHTH (eHealth.com), the nation's first and largest private online health insurance exchange, published a new eBook to better educate consumers interested in short-term health insurance plans.

Demand for short-term health insurance at eHealth.com increased over 130% between 2013 and 2014, when major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) came into effect. The new eBook is a companion to eHealth's award-winning eBook, 3 Steps to Understanding the Obamacare.

The new eBook, "3 Steps to Understanding Short-Term Health Insurance" covers the following topics:

--  What short-term health insurance is and isn't 
--  How short-term health insurance plans work 
--  When to consider short-term health insurance 
--  Common questions about short-term health insurance plans

"We've seen a significant shift in the marketplace as consumers turn to affordable short-term coverage as an alternative to ACA-compliant health plans," said eHealth CEO and Chairman Gary Lauer. "Short-term coverage can be a good option for many, but we believe consumers should understand how short-term health insurance works and how short-term plans differ from major medical health plans, especially because short-term plans do not meet the coverage requirements of the ACA."

Below are some highlighted features of short-term coverage. For more complete information, read the full eBook here or visit eHealth's Resource Center.

Basic Information about Short-Term Coverage

More Affordable
As shown in eHealth's recent report on short-term costs and trends, the average monthly premium for individual short-term plans selected by eHealth customers in 2014 was $110 per month. By comparison, the average monthly premium for individual major medical plans selected by unsubsidized eHealth customers during the 2015 open enrollment period was $286 per month.

Available Year-Round
Major medical health insurance plans are typically only available during the nationwide open enrollment period or when you experience a qualified life event, like marriage, the birth of a child, etc. Short-term plans, on the other hand, are available year-round with or without a qualifying life event.

Not ACA Compliant
Unlike major medical health insurance plans, it is possible to be declined for short-term coverage based on your personal medical history, though some guaranteed-issue short-term plans do exist. In addition, short-term plans do not provide the same benefits as major medical plans, which, unlike short-term plans, are required to cover the ACA's essential health benefits. Short-term plans will not protect you from potential tax penalties under the ACA.

eHealth
eHealth, Inc. EHTH owns eHealth.com, the nation's first and largest private health insurance exchange where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online. 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 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 through PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com), eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com) and Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com).

For more health insurance news and information, visit the eHealth consumer blog: Get Smart - Get Covered or visit eHealth's Consumer Resource Center.


Attachment Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/6/1/11G043367/3_Steps_to_Understanding_Short-Term_Health_Insuran-459907854860.pdf


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

For media inquiries, please contact:
Sande Drew
DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
(916) 207-7674
sande.drew@ehealth.com

Nate Purpura
eHealth, Inc.
(650) 210-3115
nate.purpura@ehealth.com