Online and Over the Phone, GHI Introduces New Ways to Improve Access and Enhance Service

NEW YORK, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Group Health Incorporated (GHI), a statewide not-for-profit health insurer in New York, has launched several new initiatives that improve customer service for its members, from 100% online plan enrollment to disseminating important coverage updates through brief automated phone calls.

GHI first in NY to offer 100% online enrollment
GHI has partnered with eHealthInsurance to enable individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance coverage with GHI online, in real time and without any printing, signing or mailing of forms. Applicants simply log on to http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/, submit the required data, credit card information for the first month's payment and authorize the transaction with an "e-signature." Approved applicants are covered beginning on the first day of the next calendar month. GHI is currently the only health insurer in New York that has implemented e-signatures and online payment for direct-pay individuals.
"Online enrollment is the latest GHI offering to simplify health insurance for the consumer," said Frank Branchini, President and CEO of GHI. "Enrolling in one of GHI's plans through eHealthInsurance can reduce application processing time by as much as 50%."
GHI partners with Silverlink to extend outreach to members
GHI recently tested the idea of communicating with its members through targeted, automated voice messages. For a pilot program, GHI asked Silverlink Communications to design and implement automated telephone calls which informed members of a recent change to their prescription drug formulary. The calls supplemented letters that members had already received from GHI in the mail. Approximately 7,000 calls were made.
"We sought an outreach method where we could get the attention of our members and explain these changes in plain language," said Dr, Aran Ron, Senior Vice President and Medical Director at GHI. "We are very pleased with the results and are now looking at other ways that we can use this technology to maximize consumer awareness."
GHI conducted a survey of approximately 200 members who participated in the Silverlink program. Nearly 60% said they would like to receive benefit information using the same method in the future.
GHI now features WebMD Health content on its website
WebMD Health, the leading provider of online health information is now featured on GHI's Web site, http://www.ghi.com/. Visitors to ghi.com have access to WebMD Health's vast network of health information including links to hundreds of current articles featuring the latest health news, research and medical opinions, a comprehensive health encyclopedia and interactive health quizzes. Visitors simply click on the "Health and Wellness" section of the web site which displays the WebMD logo.
GHI's ongoing commitment to better service through technological
innovation

Over the past year, GHI has launched a number of technological initiatives aimed at providing better service to members, providers and brokers including:
-- e-visits that enable patients and doctors to communicate online about
managing chronic illness and non-emergency medical issues made
possible through a 3-year contract with Relay Health. GHI was the
first NY insurer to offer this service to its members.
-- myGHI eBroker Online Services which enables general agents and selling
agents to access vital information and manage all aspects of their
business by interacting directly with GHI on this 24 hour web portal.
-- e-prescriptions made possible through a partnership with Zix
Corporation, enabling physicians to electronically write prescriptions
and immediately transmit them to pharmacies. This was the first
program of its kind in New York State.
-- a re-launched and redesigned web site with expanded consumer features
including the ability to search for a doctor or specialist by name,
location, languages spoken, neighborhood and hospital affiliation.

About GHI:

GHI is a statewide not-for-profit health insurer serving New Yorkers since 1937. GHI and its wholly-owned subsidiary, GHI HMO, provide health insurance and administrative services to more than 2.6 million people. GHI offers customers a variety of medical, hospital, dental, prescription drug and vision options as well as administrative-services-only arrangements.
About eHealthInsurance:
Since its founding in 1997, eHealthInsurance, Inc. (http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/) has become the nation's leading source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. The company sells health insurance in all 50 states and offers more than 4,000 health plans underwritten by more than 140 of the nation's leading health insurance companies. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA and has an experienced customer care team of more than 100 representatives and licensed agents that assist consumers before, during and after the purchase of health insurance plans.
About Silverlink:
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Burlington, MA, Silverlink Communications is revolutionizing outbound voice technology for the healthcare industry. Its patent-pending SAVVI(TM) (Silverlink Advanced Visual Voice Interface) software enables healthcare enterprises to create, execute and manage automated, proactive, personalized communications with thousands of patients or members at a time. With millions of calls completed to patients and members of leading national healthcare enterprises, Silverlink is helping to change the behavior of patients to improve the quality and reduce the costs of healthcare. For more information on Silverlink Communications, please visit http://www.silverlink.com/.
About Web MD:
WebMD Health is a leading provider of online information, educational services and communities for physicians and consumers. WebMD Practice Services is a leading provider of physician practice management software and related services. WebMD Envoy is a leader in payer and healthcare provider transaction processing and reimbursement cycle management services.
Group Health Incorporated

CONTACT: Michael Woloz of Connelly and McLaughlin, +1-212-437-7373, forGHI; Ilene Margolin of GHI, +1-212-615-0098

Web site: http://www.ghi.com/http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/http://www.silverlink.com/

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