eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) reported today that small employers
purchasing group health insurance through eHealth.com in 2016 paid an
average monthly premium of $286 per covered life and the average
deductible was $2,306. eHealth operates eHealth.com,
the nation's first and largest private online health insurance exchange.
eHealth's findings are derived from an analysis of plans selected by
more than 500 small employers through eHealth.com during 2016.
Highlights of the analysis include the following:
The average small group health plan had five members; three were
employees and two were family members of employees.
The average small group paid $1,432 per month, $286 per covered life.
Annual deductibles averaged $2,306.
eHealth also analyzed data at a state-level in nine states where eHealth
had at least 25 new sold groups and a combined total of at least 100
covered lives in 2016. Highlights of the analysis from these states
include the following:
The highest average monthly premium per covered life was $355 in New
York.
The lowest average monthly premium per covered life was $170 in
Arizona.
State
Average Group Size
Average Group Monthly
Average Monthly
Premium
Premium Per Covered
Life
Arizona
6
$1,018
$170
California
5
$1,570
$314
Colorado
4
$799
$200
Florida
5
$1,394
$279
Georgia
6
$1,766
$294
New Jersey
4
$1,311
$328
New York
4
$1,418
$355
Texas
5
$1,615
$323
Virginia
6
$1,043
$174
"This is the first time eHealth has published cost-related data for the
small business market, but we've been doing it for individuals and
families for several years," said Scott Flanders, CEO of eHealth, Inc.
"As many small employers debate the choice to offer coverage to
employees and their families, we felt it was important to share this
data as a benchmark for small business owners to be aware of."
eHealth is one of the few organizations with nationally sourced health
insurance data that broadly reflects consumer buying patterns and
purchase prices to provide insights into the self-purchased small group
health insurance market.
Data presented in eHealth's report is based solely on submitted
applications for health insurance through eHealth in the specified time
period. It does not offer a comprehensive view of costs for all plans
available through eHealth, through the market as a whole, or through
government SHOP exchanges. Certain applications missing key data fields
relevant for the analysis may have been removed from the total sample.
Specific health insurance plan premiums, deductibles, and other features
may differ significantly from any averages or other presented statistics.
Methodology
eHealth analyzed premium data from small group health insurance sold
through eHealth in 2016. To determine average premiums per employer, per
employee and per dependent, eHealth analyzed the number of employees and
dependents on each plan, the monthly premium paid per sold plan and the
plan deductible as listed in the plan summary of benefits.
eHealth
eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, the
nation's first and largest private online 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 Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com),
eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com)
and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).
