With an ongoing need for consumer education and awareness to help people
understand their health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act,
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) and Chicago-based GoHealth today
announced a nationwide initiative and collaboration to assist customers,
and to help provide a resource for those considering the new health
insurance marketplaces.
Walgreens store personnel are directing individual customers who inquire
to the GoHealth Marketplace, a resource where they can shop and compare
health insurance plans, enroll and find other important tools and
information. Consumers can access the GoHealth Marketplace online from www.walgreens.com/healthcarereform
or via phone at 855-487-6969. Walgreens also is providing informational
brochures and other materials in stores.
“As an accessible, community health care provider serving more than 6
million people each day, Walgreens can help connect those customers who
may be considering new health insurance options with resources and
information,” said Brad Fluegel, Walgreens senior vice president and
chief strategy officer. “Our goal is to help ensure people fully
understand the marketplace, and working with GoHealth, to provide
personalized consultation from experts who can help them make informed
decisions.”
Customers receive one-on-one support from licensed GoHealth advisors who
can help guide them through the selection and enrollment process (over
the phone or online). As an approved Web-Based Entity, the GoHealth
Marketplace offers all plans available on the federal and state
marketplaces – and can assist individuals regardless of income level or
subsidy eligibility.
“A partnership with Walgreens gives us an opportunity to reach a
population that needs our help,” said Clint Jones, CEO of GoHealth.
“Educating and enabling consumers to enroll is core to our mission of
helping individuals and families obtain the right health insurance
coverage for their unique needs.”
According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 51 percent of
Americans say they don’t understand how the Affordable Care Act will
affect them or their family. Public confusion is especially prominent
among the uninsured, as 62 percent say they don’t have enough
information about the health law.1
“We know people will have a lot of questions and many may feel
overwhelmed,” Fluegel said. “This collaboration furthers our ongoing
efforts to help those who may be entering the marketplace to be better
prepared and make informed choices. GoHealth is an ideal partner for
this program, and together we look forward to creating a seamless
experience that simplifies the process and provides the information and
support people need to get, stay and live well.”
The www.walgreens.com/healthcarereform
website serves as a resource providing an overview of key reform changes
including coverage dates, summaries of who and what conditions will be
covered and other important information. There are also links to
GoHealth to request assistance, obtain cost estimates and to enroll.
“Walgreens should be commended for recognizing the direct connection
between health insurance coverage and a consumer’s overall health,”
added Brandon Cruz, President of GoHealth. “Using our technology and
benefit advisors to simplify the health insurance enrollment process
allows more Walgreens customers easy and comprehensive access to the
coverage available to them.”
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone
in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million
customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and
services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness
services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of
pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility
and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services
improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers,
managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers
and the public sector. The company operates 8,117 drugstores in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the
largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness
centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with
more than 700 locations throughout the country.
About GoHealthInsurance:
GoHealthInsurance
and its customer-facing website GoHealthInsurance.com is a health
insurance technology platform, working with over 300 health insurance
carriers and more than 10,000 licensed agents across the United States.
Since the company's founding in 2001, the GoHealth platform has helped
nearly 30 million Americans shop and compare health insurance quotes.
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1 http://kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-august-2013/
Copyright Business Wire 2013