As people are travelling this weekend, can you help me answer a question about what insurers are actively seeking Exchange business.
In comments, please tell me how much advertising you are seeing for Exchange products and from which insurers:
- City
- State
- Insurer
- Radio/TV/Billboard
We are seeing some insurers stay on the exchange but aggressively avoid enrollment by pulling broker commissions, but advertising is the biggest controllable membership driver for an insurer. If they are advertising they want membership, and if they are not advertising, they are seeking to avoid membership. We know UHC and Maine/New Hampshire Co-Opportunity are seeking to control membership, but I am curious if other insurers are passively staying on the Exchanges?
Thanks!
Pontiac
In Southern California, Kaiser certainly seems to be advertising – I’ve noticed billboards and web ads – a la ‘you can get coverage for as low as $5.55/day’ etc.
I’m on the Bronze HMO product, single 40 yo male w/o prescriptions or pre-existing conditions and the ability to come up with $6250 if I get hit by a bus. They raised the price by about 8% vs 2015 and more or less eliminated any benefits until you get to out of pocket max.
Jackie Hutter
I am seeing a Harken Health billboard in Atlanta, GA in a somewhat lower income area on a well-traveled street with lots of commercial (Buford Highway and Clairmont). The area is very Mexican/South American/Asian immigrant.
Scout211
In California, most of the television and print media ads I am seeing are for Covered California. The ads don’t say which specific plans are offered, just that the choices are many.
Driving through my area, I see independent insurance offices with signs in front advertising “Covered California plans” as well. I saw one yesterday that was advertising for “ObamaCare plans” that made me laugh.
I have seen a Kaiser ad on television, but none for the other name brands.
raven
@Jackie Hutter: Chambodia!
PurpleGirl
I’ve not really paid attention to TV ads for health insurance. I’ve gotten letters and materials from a couple of organizations, notably HealthFirst. They and others have tables in the lobbies at Elmhurst Hospital Medical Center. Elmhurst has a whole system of clinics which I use.
I’m in a weird spot — I’m not working and am not eligible for subsidies. I have too much in assets to get Medicaid. I become Medicare eligible next year when I turn 65. But I do live in NYC, whose Health and Hospitals Corporation has its own sort-of insurance program (HHC Options) which takes my situation into consideration and charges me reduced fees for doctors visits and prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy.
Helen
In NYC I’ve seen a number of TV ads for Healthfirst
Ken Kohl
In Buffalo, NY, there are numerous TV spots and billboards advertising Blue Cross/BlueShield of WNY, Univera Healthcare and Independent Health.
geg6
Here in Southwestern PA (Pittsburgh metro area), we have ad wars between Highmark and UPMC. In print, on tv, on radio, on billboards and in targeted popup ads online. Constantly during the enrollment period. Monotonously.
Jackie Hutter
@raven Yes! But it’s becoming more Hispanic as Asians become more upwardly mobile. Still the best place for eclectic food in the SE, and thankfully just a couple of miles from our ‘hood.
Ryan
Only one I’ve seen so far here.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Durham, NC
TV (I do not monitor radio)
narya
Partly because you asked, I’ve noticed a couple of things:
1) Illinois is running ads for Illinois Health Connect–and one of the ads includes a gay couple, talking about how they got married and got covered and then one of them had appendicitis and hoo-boy are they glad they were insured!
2) BCBS is also running similar ads (though not with a gay couple, that I’ve seen).
Illinois is an expansion state, so lots of Medicaid enrollment (at our CHC, enrollment nearly doubled from before the 1115 waiver went into effect to now), but it looks like everyone is pushing purchasing insurance, too.
narya
p.s. I was very excited to see the IHC ad with the gay couple; it was kinda awesome, if you wanna know.