HHS collaborates with innovative companies to encourage Marketplace enrollment

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the fourth Open Enrollment period, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced a commitment from seventeen companies to support enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace. These companies will connect freelance professionals, entrepreneurs, and customers with information and resources to encourage enrollment in affordable coverage throughout the Open Enrollment period beginning November 1 and ending on January 31.

These companies issued the following joint statement: “Our companies alongside the Affordable Care Act, are helping to build a new, innovative American economy. It’s an economy where people can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with affordable health coverage no matter where they work. Our businesses represent over 15 million professionals and reach over 8.5 million people with our products and services. During Open Enrollment, we are committed to providing information that helps people understand their coverage options.”

“We’re excited about this collaboration, which will boost our efforts to reach more Americans than ever this year and help them get covered,” said Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. “The Marketplaces are already serving entrepreneurs and independent workers across the country, and we want all individuals without workplace coverage to know that thanks to financial assistance, most HealthCare.gov enrollees have coverage options for less than $75 per month. Open Enrollment for 2017 coverage begins November 1.”

During Open Enrollment, HHS will collaborate with innovation economy companies as well as companies supporting freelance workers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. These companies have committed to providing information about Marketplace coverage options during open enrollment. Through this collaboration, HHS will reach more individuals who are likely to qualify for Marketplace coverage and can shop for health insurance on a transparent, user-friendly website where they can compare plans and see financial assistance that lowers the cost of coverage.

Commitments from companies include:

• Care.com: Care.com is an online marketplace connecting families and caregivers. The company will use its Care.com Benefits platform to promote Open Enrollment to caregivers on its site and share information about enrollment deadlines.
• DoorDash: DoorDash facilitates door-to-door delivery by partnering with Dashers, who pick up and drop off items from local restaurants, merchants, and other businesses. DoorDash is committing to share information with Dashers in more than 250 cities about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment, and enrollment deadlines through email, newsletters and its blog.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is a global marketplace of creative and digital services for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Fiverr is launching an effort to educate the millions in its buyer and seller community about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment, and enrollment deadlines.
• FlexJobs: FlexJobs is an online service for professionals seeking telecommuting, flexible schedule, part-time, and freelance jobs. Flexible workers are more likely than full-time, in-office employees to lack workplace coverage. FlexJobs will promote the importance of health insurance coverage and share information about the Open Enrollment timeline through its blog, social media channels, and newsletter, and will also host a webinar for its members.
• Freelancers Union: Freelancers Union, an advocacy organization for independent workers, will offer its 300,000 members resources, education, and a portable benefits platform to help them find and select health plans that best meet their needs. Freelancers Union will leverage its blog, social media, and email channels to keep members informed of key Open Enrollment deadlines, and provide information about the Affordable Care Act.
• GLAMSQUAD: GLAMSQUAD connects clients with on-demand in-home beauty services. GLAMSQUAD will educate professionals in New York, Miami and Los Angeles about Open Enrollment via email and newsletter.
• Handy: Handy connects clients with on-demand home services. This year, Handy will launch a digital educational effort to increase professionals’ awareness of Open Enrollment. The outreach campaign will connect professionals with informative and accessible resources about health insurance options in the 15 states that Handy services. More than 90% of professionals using the Handy platform are women and more than 60% care for dependents. Handy will also provide tailored communications with guidance and assistance on issues facing women, mothers, and families.
• Intuit QuickBooks Self- Employed: Intuit QuickBooks Self-Employed helps self-employed and freelance professionals get paid, manage their cash flow, and pay taxes. Users will be able to access HealthCare.gov from within the QuickBooks Self-Employed product, allowing them to find a healthcare plan that best suits their unique needs. Intuit is also providing ongoing educational resources through the QuickBooks Self-Employed Center and in person at this year’s QuickBooks Connect Conference to help self-employed people make the most of the Affordable Care Act.
• Lyft: Lyft, a ridesharing company, will share important information about the Affordable Care Act and amplify enrollment deadlines for hundreds of thousands of drivers across the country. In addition, Lyft will provide discounted rides for new riders who need a ride to Open Enrollment events across the nation.
• MATTER: MATTER, a healthcare technology incubator that works with healthcare technology startups, health systems and health care companies, will spread the word about Open Enrollment through its digital channels to healthcare innovators throughout their community.
• Rock Health: Rock Health is a venture fund dedicated to digital health. In line with its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and creating an affordable, accessible healthcare system, Rock Health will promote informative Open Enrollment resources and posts through its social media channels with a reach of over 67,000.
• Stride Health: Stride Health is a Portable Benefits platform providing coverage options to independent workers. Stride Health will assist more than 5 million self-employed workers from on-demand and service marketplaces who rely on its benefits platform to select and enroll in affordable coverage, during Open Enrollment. Additionally, Stride Health is committed to ensuring that all independent workers that use its platform have year-round guidance for accessing preventive services, utilizing affordable care in their plans and navigating advance premium tax credits given their often fluctuating incomes.
• TaskRabbit: TaskRabbit, a freelance labor platform, will continue to encourage Taskers to enroll in Marketplace coverage, and will share alerts about the start of Open Enrollment as well as each of its key deadlines.
• Thumbtack: Thumbtack is a local services marketplace where small business professionals can find customers. Thumbtack will be using its blog to inform the more than 250,000 small business professionals who use its service about this year’s Open Enrollment period, including key deadlines.
• Uber: This year Uber, a ridesharing start-up, will once again match drivers with Affordable Care Act enrollment assistance, as well as use email to provide drivers with additional options and information to improve their well-being.
• Upwork: Upwork, a freelancing marketplace focusing on skilled knowledge work, will share information about Open Enrollment with millions of U.S. users. Earlier this year, Upwork launched a Business Resources center informing users about HealthCare.gov. Upwork has committed to promoting open enrollment through digital channels, including publishing an article on its Hiring Headquarters blog.
• WeWork: WeWork, which provides space, services, and community at more than 100 locations worldwide, will provide information about Open Enrollment to US-based members of its community of over 75,000 freelancers, start-ups, and other entrepreneurs. WeWork members will receive alerts via the WeWork Member Network and social media handles, as well as a feature in Creator (the WeWork in-house magazine). Additionally, WeWork will communicate about Open Enrollment to its members through their building newsletters and other digital displays.