HealthCare.com Sees Nearly 60% Surge in Health Insurance Referral Business Since Kickoff of 2014 Open Enrollment Period

HealthCare.com estimates it could help over 400,000 consumers connect to health insurance providers by the end of the current enrollment period

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HealthCare.com

Dec 15, 2014, 08:00 ET

MIAMI, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthCare.com, the nation's leading private comparison tool and search engine for health insurance plans, said today it has seen a 57 percent increase in the number of people successfully connected to one of its insurance partners to buy a healthcare plan.

A technology and marketplace company that aspires to educate consumers on how to become better buyers of healthcare, starting with insurance.

The increase was determined after analyzing HealthCare.com consumer referrals three weeks prior to the beginning of the November 15 open enrollment period for health insurance, compared to the most recent full week of customers shopping online. Since December 5, referral business has increased 88 percent compared to the prior week.

Based on how its referrals are trending, HealthCare.com estimates that it is on pace to help more than 400,000 consumers connect with agents, call centers, web-based entities and other enrollers to find medical insurance coverage during the federally mandated enrollment period that ends on February 15, 2015.

"This growth demonstrates the importance of giving consumers multiple choices to find an affordable health insurance plan and enroll," said HealthCare.com CEO Jeff Smedsrud. "December 15^th is the deadline for anyone who wanted coverage to start on January 1^st. We encourage consumers to shop around to find the best plan that fits their budget and personal needs."

Since 2006, HealthCare.com has been a provider of online healthcare-related services. Over the years HealthCare.com has continued to grow and offer the country's most comprehensive selection of health insurance options, including nearly all state-based exchange plans, federal exchange plans and many private, off-exchange plans. Using proprietary technology that continues to expand, HealthCare.com helps consumers compare costs and subsidies for free, and enables them to purchase their insurance online, over the phone with a licensed advisor, or in person with a local agent. Open enrollment for purchasing health insurance for 2015 or renewing current healthcare plans runs now through Feb. 15, 2015.

"Healthcare.com launched its new search technology just a few months ago. We are pleased to see such a strong interest in our online resources," said Mr. Smedsrud.

HealthCare.com recently announced $7.5 million in Series A funding, led by Jeffery H. Boyd and Robert J. Mylod, Jr. Mr. Boyd is Chairman of the Board of The Priceline Group and was its Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2013. Before joining priceline.com, Mr. Boyd was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Oxford Health Plans, Inc. Mr. Mylod served as Priceline's Chief Financial Officer from 1998 to 2009 and as its Vice Chairman from 2009 to 2012. Mr. Mylod serves on the Board of Directors of Dropbox, EverBank Financial Corp. and Redfin.

About HealthCare.com
HealthCare.com has been a longtime provider of online healthcare-related service since the company's founding back in 2006. Privately-owned HealthCare.com is the nation's leading unbiased search and comparison engine for personal healthcare. The website features virtually all of the state-based exchange plans, federal exchange plans and many private, off-exchange plans. Using powerful proprietary technology and tools, HealthCare.com continues to grow its technology, interfaces and services to help consumers compare health insurance costs and subsidies for free, and enable them to purchase their insurance online, over the phone with a licensed advisor, or in person with an expert, local agent. HealthCare.com's goal is to help consumers easily research information and compare health insurance quotes from insurance carriers using interactive tools and an intuitive interface. The company's website offers trusted recommendations and a comparison shopping experience to simplify decision-making, allowing consumers to find the right health insurance plan that fits their lifestyle. It also offers online calculators and shopping tools to make buying easier and more efficient. With more than one million visitors each month, HealthCare.com partners, and integrates with industry-leading health insurance companies to help consumers enroll into plans. HealthCare.com has offices in Miami, Minneapolis, New York and Guatemala City. For more information, visit www.healthcare.com.

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SOURCE HealthCare.com