GoHealth Busts Myth That Health Insurance Is Too Expensive

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Mar 20, 2014) - With only 12 days left to enroll in a major medical health plan, GoHealth is raising awareness about available tax subsidies that can save eligible Americans thousands of dollars on health insurance. GoHealth is a leading private online exchange for individuals and families to shop and compare health insurance plans. It became the first private exchange to successfully enroll consumers in subsidized plans, under the Affordable Care Act.

An alarming survey from BankRate.com found that one third of uninsured Americans are not signing up for health insurance, mostly because they feel it is too expensive. However, 70 percent of uninsured Americans are reportedly unaware that new federal tax subsidies can significantly lower the cost of coverage. Eligible Americans can instantly apply these tax subsidies to their monthly premiums and some Americans are eligible for cost-sharing reductions that can substantially reduce the cost of deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and total-out-of-pocket spending.

"Our consumers are paying less than they thought was possible for health insurance," said Brandon Cruz, president of GoHealth. "GoHealth's licensed insurance advisors are trained to inform shoppers of every money-saving opportunity, and many consumers are shocked to learn that they're eligible to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on coverage."

In August, GoHealth confirmed a Web-Broker Entity agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) enabling GoHealth to calculate tax subsidies and apply the savings directly to consumers' health plans. With this agreement and GoHealth's breakthrough enrollment platform, GoHealth is connecting individuals and families across the country with affordable coverage.

Perry Bonner, a social worker in Michigan, recently learned he could afford coverage for the first time in more than a decade. "After connecting with a licensed insurance advisor from GoHealth, I learned that I was qualified for a tax subsidy that saves me $380 every month," said Bonner. "It's an incredible feeling knowing that if I get injured or become ill, I'm covered."

Eligibility for lower costs on health insurance depends on household income and size. The lower a household's income, the more financial assistance it may receive.

To be eligible for financial assistance you must:

• Not be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or affordable employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Enroll in a major medical health insurance plan by March 31.
• Have a household income between one and four times the federal poverty line.
  • $11,490 to $45,960 for individuals
  • $23,550 to $94,200 for a family of four

"We urge our consumers to keep in mind that once March 31 passes, the opportunity to save this year will be gone," added Cruz.

Consumers can find out their savings using GoHealth's Tax Subsidy Calculator at http://www.gohealthinsurance.com/subsidy. For more information or to shop for coverage before open enrollment ends, please visit www.GoHealthInsurance.com.

About GoHealth:
GoHealth is a health insurance technology company that makes shopping for quality health insurance simple. GoHealth's technology enables consumers across the United States to easily compare pricing and benefits of a variety of health insurance plans. Based in Chicago, GoHealth works with more than 300 health insurance carriers and more than 10,000 licensed agents across the United States to offer consumers a customized shopping experience. Since the company's founding in 2001, the GoHealth platform has helped more than 30 million Americans compare, shop for and save money on health insurance plans.