New Health Insurance Public Exchanges Will Not Cover Your Car, Your House, or Your Dog Fido

Insurance for pets, homeowners and cars - in addition to health insurance, these were the items that consumers ventured to guess would be included on the menu of options available to them through the public health insurance exchanges being introduced this coming fall. Some even thought travel insurance might be offered.

However, just as florists sell flowers and burger joints sell burgers, the focus of the menu on the public health insurance exchanges will focus squarely on health insurance. But, early research suggests many consumers expect disability insurance to be one of their choices. In fact, just a quarter of all Americans know that only health insurance will be offered on the public exchanges.

“As this fall draws near, and consumers prepare to purchase their health insurance on the public exchanges, it will be important for them to know that disability insurance will not be one their options,” said Bill Smith, president of WellPoint’s Disability and Life businesses. “Instead, they will need to purchase disability insurance either through their employer, or out on the open market.”

Disability insurance helps replace a person’s income when they can’t work due to a disabling injury or illness. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, of today’s 20-year olds, one in four will suffer a disabling injury before retirement.

The WellPoint survey, conducted to celebrate Disability Insurance Awareness Month, uncovered further confusion around the issue, with most believing that if they get sick, having health insurance coverage means that all of their health care needs are taken care of.

• This was particularly the case for the younger of those surveyed, falling within the ages of 18 and 34.
• This same age group also believed that if they were injured and unable to work, they would be helped through the health care reform laws.

The need for consumers to appreciate the importance of purchasing disability insurance was underscored by the fact that nearly half (47 percent) of all respondents admitted to living from paycheck to paycheck; a dramatic increase from 2012 when nearly a third (32 percent) indicated this to be the case.

While nearly three quarters (74 percent) of those surveyed admitted to knowing someone who had taken off work because of a disabling injury or illness, few equated disability benefits with more common needs such as maternity leave after childbirth or fitness service discounts, which WellPoint offers even without the filing of a claim.

“The good news from this survey is that most consumers do see the value of disability insurance; with 65 percent equating it to being prepared for the future,” adds Smith. “The challenge becomes making sure people have access to it, and know how to go about purchasing it.”

More information about WellPoint’s disability benefits can be found at www.anthemlife.com.

This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted among two national probability samples, which, when combined, consists of 1,013 adults, 504 men and 509 women 18 years of age and older, living in the continental United States. Interviewing for this CARAVAN® Survey was completed on April 18-21, 2013. 663 interviews were from the landline sample and 350 interviews from the cell phone sample.

The margin of error for the total sample is ±3.0 percent. This means that if we were to replicate the study, we would expect to get the same results within 3.0 percentage points.

About WellPoint, Inc.

At WellPoint (NYSE: WLP), we believe there is an important connection between our members’ health and well-being—and the value we bring our customers and shareholders. So each day we work to improve the health of our members and their communities. And, we can make a real difference since we have nearly 36 million people in our affiliated health plans, and nearly 68 million people served through our subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; and as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). We also serve customers in several additional states through our Amerigroup subsidiary and in certain markets through our CareMore subsidiary. Our 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. subsidiary offers customers online sales of contact lenses, eyeglasses and other ocular products. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.