Healthcare.gov Will Compete Against Agents

nolaagent · 07-31-2010, 06:10 AM

...here's the other thing to think about...

Ehealthinsurance, quotit, norvax, etc...all the companies that have multi-carrier quoting capablities are all vying to be the govt vendor to provide the healthcare.gov quoting engine by 10/1/10.

They all recognize that their current business models, whether its online sales, quote systems, lead sales, etc, will not be sustainable as an online retail agent or as a company that provide agents services.

My bet is that ehealth will win because:

1) they have the majority of carriers already installed on their platform

2) they seem to have the best technology/know how

3) I think they most definitely have the most online marketing expertise

Healthcare.gov will leverage all of ehealth's technology and online marketing expertise to market the hell out of their site. Don't be surprised if healthcare.gov starts popping up 1st on the Google searches!

somarco · 07-31-2010, 06:46 AM

So what?

Google Medicare and guess which site shows up #1?

nolaagent · 07-31-2010, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by somarco

So what?

Google Medicare and guess which site shows up #1?

I think googling "health plan" or "individual health insurance" in the near future will bring up the obamacare site #1...just like it does ehealth now.

Now the Medicare site is very user unfriendly and difficult to understand...maybe even more so for Seniors?

I think if ehealth is chosen, they will ensure that the Obamacare site is much easier to navigate, give tools for plan selectiion and make it easier to enroll!

The Obamacare site will also have a big media/advertising push (probably greater than what ehealth spends) to make sure people are aware of the site.

Just sayin!

Bob_The_Insurance_Guy · 07-31-2010, 07:10 AM

I don't want to compete with HealthCare.gov.

Let all the uninsurables go there. Let them deal with the claims problems. I want to continue to work with relatively healthy people that have HDHP plans.

Same reason why I'm not upset that the homeless downtown can't invest in an Annuity. THAT'S NOT THE TARGET MARKET FOR IT.

somarco · 07-31-2010, 08:44 AM

Nolan, if eHealth is competition for you now then you have bigger problems than eGovHealth in the near future. (Coming in October, 2010 to a website near you . . .).

This is worth repeating.

Having had a site with a quote engine for several years now, less than 10% of people who run quotes on their own and do not have any contact with me actually apply for coverage. Of those who apply, I am lucky if 5% of those complete the application and are approved.

DS4 · 07-31-2010, 10:33 AM

Yes, ehealth is competition. But, they also provide me with leads/sales!
I can tell when they are advertising in my market. Ehealth steers prospects towards their website. Prospects can play around with their quote engine, etc. I'm sure many people apply. But, there people that have many, many questions. They don't want to speak to some salesperson at the end of a 800#. They say to themselves, " there must be someone local I can talk to?". They start flipping through the yellow pages and there I am!
My question is this, do you think I should send ehealth a gift basket for each of these referals?

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 07-31-2010, 10:39 AM

I trust that Google will take notice of where the IP is located and give preference to local (State) sites. (Assuming it is a decent aged site with content).

harbinger · 07-31-2010, 11:06 AM

from kaiser health news

Ehealth Inc., a large Internet health insurance broker, has been named to help operate the new federal health website, making it one of the first private companies to get a major contract from the federal government under the nation's new health law.

The Obama administration awarded eHealth a $19.3 million contract to expand the new federal website, www healthcare gov, designed to help people shop for health coverage.

Ehealth, a Mountain View, Calif., company that runs its own website , was considered a favorite to win the federal job because it already helps millions of consumers comparison shop for private health coverage.

The federal website is more extensive because it gives consumers information on government health programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as providing a listing of the health plans available in each state for individuals and small groups, including contact information and links to doctors and hospitals in each plan's network. The site was created by the new health law and launched July 1.

But beginning in October, with the help of eHealth Inc.'s software, the site will start providing detailed cost and benefits information for private health plans.

But even after the website is updated, consumers will still not be able to sign up for new plans directly from the site. To do that, consumers can go directly to the health plan website or to the eHealthInsurance site.

Ehealth Inc. officials on Friday confirmed they won the contract but declined further comment.

somarco · 07-31-2010, 11:26 AM

Carrier direct apps are less than 10% of the market. If I had to guess, eHealth might garner 6 - 8% of the business if that.

Bozo agents who can't find their butt with both hands pick up maybe 40% of the market.

That still leaves plenty for me, including spillover from all of the above once the applicant/policyholder figures out they have been screwed.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 07-31-2010, 12:41 PM

I would be ecstatic if that 6-8 applies to the .Gov website.

"But even after the website is updated, consumers will still not be able to sign up for new plans directly from the site."

A bit misleading. You can click on a link on the site that takes you where you need to go to sign up.

somarco · 07-31-2010, 02:30 PM

can click on a link on the site that takes you where you need to go to sign up.

That's odd. You can do the same on my site.

GreenSky · 07-31-2010, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by somarco

That's odd. You can do the same on my site.

Even stranger. When you click on the "apply now" link on my site, it goes to your site.

Rick

somarco · 07-31-2010, 03:06 PM

When you click on the "apply now" link on my site, it goes to your site.

Curses! Foiled again.

nolaagent · 07-31-2010, 05:26 PM

Quotit and Norvax must be dissappointed. At least one agent (ehealth) is able to participate in the early exchange. I'll be sending all the unisurable leads I get to healthcare.gov's PCIP.

jbage007 · 07-31-2010, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by nolaagent

Quotit and Norvax must be dissappointed. At least one agent (ehealth) is able to participate in the early exchange. I'll be sending all the unisurable leads I get to healthcare.gov's PCIP.

Why would norvax be surprised? They already send THEIR LEADS over to ehealth.

Here's what happens just after a new client requests a quote from a Norvass site and just before the new lead is sold to multiple agents

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 07-31-2010, 06:57 PM

PZ leads are horrible. But the Norvax QE is rock solid.

ghealthplus · 07-31-2010, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_The_Insurance_Guy

I don't want to compete with HealthCare.gov.

Let all the uninsurables go there. Let them deal with the claims problems. I want to continue to work with relatively healthy people that have HDHP plans.

Same reason why I'm not upset that the homeless downtown can't invest in an Annuity. THAT'S NOT THE TARGET MARKET FOR IT.

Hi Bob..What is a HDHP plans? Not sure what you mean by that.

Dave020 · 07-31-2010, 09:59 PM

HDHP - High Deductible Health Plan (HSA compatible normally)

CDHP - Consumer Driven Health Plan (same as above but possible lower deductible)

Neither are going to be made available through the Obama-pools

IndividualHealthGuy · 08-02-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by CHUMPS FROM OXFORD

PZ leads are horrible. But the Norvax QE is rock solid.

If you want to give too much info to your client, or not enough. Or spend too much time scrolling and scrolling and scrolling through the plans that quote because all you can do is say you want a deductible lower than, say, $5000. The rock you refer to, is that sandstone?

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 08-02-2010, 11:09 AM

Hardly. That's why you change your settings. And the embedded current quote in the email is something that very few (including, I believe you) have.

I'm sure your system is acceptable and if I were starting out, I would consider it.

And this thread is about leads and lead companies. Let's stick to that without trying to sell a product.

DISCLAIMER: I am not compensated in any way by any company and I have no agenda. However, I respect all opinions, including those that have an agenda.

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