More than a year after technical glitches on Healthcare.gov emboldened Affordable Care Act critics and fueled late-night talk show jokes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has since forged partnerships with four digital platforms to help promote the current open-enrollment period, which ends Feb. 15.
Consider the helping hands that now stretch across the nation, offering HHS key assistance:
- Monster.com, whose mission is to target people who are between jobs and quite possibly health insurance coverage.
- Peers.org, whose self-employed audience is another logical target for the exchanges.
- Higi, whose interactive health stations track blood pressure, body mass index and other vital signs in the pharmacy area of 2,000 Kroger, 1,000 Super Valu/Albertsons and 250 Meijer stores.
- PayNearMe, a payment company whose open-enrollment deadline reminders are included on every receipt printed from terminals at 7,800 7-Eleven stores nationwide, as well as Family Dollar Stores and other retail outlets.
These innovative companies help us to reach our consumers where they are with the information they need to sign up and re-enroll in quality, affordable care through the health insurance marketplace, HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said in a statement announcing plans to spread the word about open enrollment.
Melissa Wojciak, VP of government relations at Monster Worldwide, described its involvement as a great opportunity to provide our broad U.S. audience of consumers and job seekers with timely and accurate information regarding the Affordable Care Act.
An Internet pioneer with more than 200 million job-seekers registered on its international network, Monster.com has operations in more than 40 countries. Services include job searches, career management, recruitment and talent management.
Shelby Clark, executive director of Peers, lauded the HIX marketplace for giving working Americans more freedom and flexibility in choosing a health insurance plan that works best for them, regardless of whether they work for an employer or for themselves. Public exchanges help promote the creation of businesses now that individuals no longer need to rely on employer-provided health insurance for affordable coverage, according to the company.
Peers.org describes itself as the worlds largest independent sharing economy community. It has not only posted information on its website on how to enroll on Healthcare.gov, but also agreed to host a live video chat with an HHS official to answer questions from its 250,000 members worldwide.
We are thrilled, in tandem with our retail partners, to be able to offer our support in promoting the health insurance marketplace to millions of consumers at such an impactful time in their daily routine while they are engaged in their health and wellness, added Richard Hirsch, a Higi spokesman.
Higi began posting HIX open-enrollment messaging on the overhead screens of its interactive stations on December 5 and will continue doing so throughout the open-enrollment period. The companys kiosks are located in retail stores, as well as corporate wellness sites, fitness clubs and medical providers. Information is also made available on its website and a mobile app.
