Metal Gap At-a-Glance
Purchasing the right health insurance policy is a stressful experience for most consumers. The IHC Group wants to create a vehicle for sharing positive experiences for our insureds while providing products people are looking to buy during Open Enrollment.
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) January 28, 2015
IHC Specialty Benefits, a member of The IHC Group, today announced results from “Share Your Stories” which provided a forum for consumers and agents to lend their voices to the national discussion on securing health insurance in America.
The campaign provided an opportunity for real-time feedback on the experiences that consumers and agents have encountered in understanding the affordability and scope of various coverage alternatives available to them under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans and supplemental health insurance plans available in their market.
“Our goal is to provide people a forum to express their questions and concerns about a very personal issue that impacts their finances and well-being,” said Brian Dow, Chief Operating Officer of IHC Specialty Benefits. “Purchasing the right health insurance policy is a stressful experience for most consumers. The IHC Group wants to not only provide the products people are looking to buy during Open Enrollment (and for the balance of 2015) and access to advice from highly trained licensed agents, but we also want to create a vehicle for sharing experiences in hopes of making this a more positive experience for our insureds.”
The month-long campaign featured first-person accounts of Americans’ experiences in understanding and purchasing health coverage that best fits their needs and budgets. These accounts are available on the company’s website, http://www.healthedeals.com/share-your-stories and through Health eDeal’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages.
These stories include Paul and Amy from Wyoming, whose family members experienced two illnesses within 30 days of each other. Because they had purchased IHC’s Metal Gap plan, a guarantee-issue, supplemental insurance policy that provides a lump-sum payment when a covered critical illness or an accident occurs, they received two separate payouts for the incidents. “With that money [the family] was able to cover its entire major medical deductible,” said their insurance broker Dawn Sheue. “That’s one of the things I adore about the plan: It’s a nice convenient, efficient payout.”
In Utah, Kenneth lost his oil field job nine months ago. “Last year, at open enrollment, he did not qualify for a subsidy because his income was too high,” explained Renee Troutt, an agent with Central Utah Agency. “This year, he had to report a change in income because he has not worked. He doesn’t qualify for a subsidy to help pay for the cost of his premium, because he’s under the income guidelines.” Ultimately, Kenneth hopes to find a job that either offers group coverage or allows him to qualify for a subsidy. For now, he has a short-term medical policy which bridges the coverage gap between Open Enrollment periods with affordable, comprehensive coverage.
To experience these and other personal healthcare stories, please visit:
1. Twitter @HealtheDeals and include #shareyourstories
2. Facebook http://www.facebook.com/healthedeals
3. Linked In http://www.linkedin.com/company/health-edeals
For more information, please visit http://www.healthedeals.com/share-your-stories
About IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc.
IHC Specialty Benefits, doing business as HealtheDeals.com, is a full-service marketing and distribution company that focuses on small employer, individual and consumer products. Products are marketed through general agents online, telebrokerage, advisor centers, private label and directly to consumers. For more information about IHC Specialty Benefits, visit http://www.ihcgroup.com.
About The IHC Group
The IHC Group is an organization of insurance carriers and marketing and administrative affiliates that has been providing life, health, disability, medical stop-loss and specialty insurance solutions to groups and individuals for over 30 years. Members of The IHC Group include Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC), American Independence Corp. (NASDAQ: AMIC), Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company. Each insurance carrier in The IHC Group has a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best Company, Inc., a widely recognized rating agency that rates insurance companies on their relative financial strength and ability to meet policyholder obligations. (An A++ rating from A.M. Best is its highest rating.) Collectively, the companies in The IHC Group provide insurance coverage to more than one million individuals and groups. For more information about The IHC Group, visit http://www.ihcgroup.com