UnitedHealthcare and ConnectedHealth Partner to Distribute Benefit Plan Options Through Smart Choices™ Marketplace

ConnectedHealth today announced that it has partnered with UnitedHealthcare, an operating division of UnitedHealth Group to offer a full range of group benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans, to small and medium employers. Both companies are working together with key consultancies, including Willis, to roll out the newly packaged UnitedHealthcare plans first to eligible members of the Columbus Bar Association in Columbus, Ohio, and later to other clients. The Association is set to launch a co-branded version of ConnectedHealth’s Smart Choices Marketplace in September.

“As part of our ongoing mission, UnitedHealthcare is focused on simplifying healthcare for consumers,” said Dave Luby, Executive Director of UnitedHealthcare. “Offering our plans through the ConnectedHealth platform just made sense given their innovative and easy-to-use technology, along with our mutual dedication to helping consumers live healthier lives.”

With the Smart Choices Marketplace, the Columbus Bar Association will offer both group and individual coverage in one integrated platform – allowing eligible employees of the Association’s members to easily shop for and choose health insurance. Legal professionals and employees of nearly 5000 members of the Association’s law firms will have access to a wide range of plans from UnitedHealthcare. Employees who are not eligible for group benefits and sole-practitioners will be able to shop for individual coverage through the Marketplace and can determine if they qualify for a tax subsidy, which they can use toward the costs of qualified health plans available to them. Backed by ConnectedHealth’s award-winning Recommendation Engine, the Smart Choices Marketplace helps employees make informed decisions about their coverage options so they can meet their personal health and financial needs.

“We are excited to deliver UnitedHealthcare’s leading group coverage options to the Columbus Bar Association,” said Joe Donlan, President of ConnectedHealth. “The exchange strategy we’ve developed for the Columbus Bar is a powerful, flexible model that will serve the diverse needs of their membership. We’re replicating this across the country with key broker and employer relationships to address similar needs of many healthcare consumers nationwide.”

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

About ConnectedHealth
ConnectedHealth drives corporate growth by making it easy for employees to be healthy and financially secure. Founded by pioneers of the consumer transparency movement, the Company’s award-winning consumer-friendly platform delivers innovative benefits strategies while offering consumers the most intuitive shopping platform available. To learn more about how ConnectedHealth is revolutionizing group and individual benefits, visit us at www.ConnectedHealth.com or on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

About Willis
Willis Group Holdings plc is a leading global risk adviser, insurance and reinsurance broker. With roots dating to 1828, Willis operates today on every continent with more than 18,000 employees in over 400 offices. Willis offers its clients superior expertise, teamwork, innovation and market-leading products and professional services in risk management and transfer. Our experts rank among the world's leading authorities on analytics, modeling and mitigation strategies at the intersection of global commerce and extreme events. Find more information at our website, www.willis.com, our leadership journal, Resilience, or our up-to-the-minute blog on breaking news, WillisWire. Across geographies, industries and specialisms, Willis provides its local and multinational clients with resilience for a risky world.