Obamacare Open Enrollment and Prescription Drugs: eHealth Drug Coverage Comparison Tool Can Deliver Significant Savings on Critical Rx Costs

eHealth reports median potential savings of $1,650; 70% of potential
savers could save $500 or more; 25% could save $4,000 or more

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), which operates eHealth.com, the
nation’s first and largest private online health insurance
exchange, released figures describing how much money health insurance
shoppers could potentially save by using the company’s prescription drug
coverage comparison tool during the Affordable Care Act’s (Obamacare’s)
2017 open enrollment period, which is scheduled to begin on November 1,
2016.

At eHealth.com, people can enter their prescription drugs into eHealth’s
drug coverage comparison tool and find the Obamacare plan that covers
their prescription drugs at the lowest possible price. While all major
medical health insurance plans cover prescription drugs, health plans
often differ in the specific drugs they cover and the out-of-pocket
costs enrollees will face.

eHealth analyzed over 25,000 sessions where a customer used the tool
outside of open enrollment in 2016. In sixty-four percent of those
sessions (over 16,000) people who used the tool found potential savings
if they switched to the plan optimized for their prescription drug
regimen:

• The median amount that could be saved was $1,650
• 70% found $500 or more in potential savings
• 25% found $4,000 or more in potential savings
• Overall, men found more potential savings ($2,086) than women ($1,272)
• By age group, potential savings were highest among adults between the
  ages of 60-64 ($2,019) and 40-49 ($1,969) vs. other age groups
• The average person entered 2 prescription drugs into the tool when
  comparing plans

“Too many people waste money on prescription drugs because they don’t
compare the coverage offered under different plans , but now there’s no
excuse to stick with a plan that doesn’t meet your needs,” said eHealth
CEO Scott Flanders. “eHealth’s prescription drug coverage comparison
tool makes it easy to find and enroll in the plan that’s best for you.
Our analysis shows that you could potentially save hundreds or even
thousands of dollars by enrolling in the right plan for your personal
prescription drug needs.”

Significant potential Rx savings for shoppers who use eHealth’s
comparison tool

In the tables below, eHealth identifies median potential savings for
users of the drug coverage comparison tool who visited the company’s
website between February 1 and August 31, 2016. When reviewing their
coverage options through eHealth.com, shoppers were prompted to enter
their prescription drugs and dosages and review the potential savings
available by plan. These savings may only be realized if the shopper
enrolls in the optimal plan and takes the prescription drugs in the
dosages they have described. See the methodology section below for
additional details.

Drugs most commonly entered by anonymous tool users

The ten most common drugs entered by health insurance shoppers into
eHealth’s drug coverage comparison tool include the following:

• Adderall, a drug commonly used to treat ADHD and other conditions
• Lisinopril, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart
  failure
• Levothyroxine, commonly used to treat hypothyroidism
• Metformin, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes
• Vyvanse, commonly used to treat ADHD
• Synthroid, a brand-name version of levothyroxine
• Atorvastatin, commonly used to treat high cholesterol
• Duloxetine, commonly used to treat depression, anxiety and other
  conditions
• Lantus, commonly used to treat diabetes
• Buproprion, commonly used to treat depression and aid smoking cessation

Drugs most commonly entered that did not generate savings

The five most common drugs entered by health insurance shoppers into
eHealth’s drug coverage comparison tool which did not yield potential
savings for customers include:

1. Saxenda, used to regulate appetite
2. Imatinib, used to treat certain types of cancer and other related
   diseases
3. Keytruda, used in cancer immunotherapy
4. Clozaril, used to treat schizophrenia
5. Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction in men

Methodology

In preparing the analysis above, eHealth reviewed more than 16,000 user
sessions in which anonymous consumers utilized the drug coverage
comparison function at eHealth.com between February 1 and August 31,
2016 and found potential savings. Potential savings are calculated based
on the full price for the drugs entered by consumers. Full price is
based on figures obtained through insurance carriers with whom eHealth
has a relationship or through other sources. Savings figures are based
only on plans available through eHealth.com and may only be realized if
the consumer chooses to enroll in the plan identified as offering the
highest savings. In addition, although the comparison tool attempts to
use the latest data available, plans may change their drug formularies
or coverage rates or otherwise not provide the latest correct data in
some instances.

eHealth

eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) owns eHealth.com, the
nation’s first and largest private online health insurance exchange
where individuals, families and small businesses can compare health
insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and
enroll in coverage online. eHealth offers thousands of individual,
family and small business health plans underwritten by many of the
nation’s leading health insurance companies. eHealth (through its
subsidiaries) is licensed to sell health insurance in all 50 states and
the District of Columbia. eHealth also offers educational resources and
powerful online and pharmacy-based tools to help Medicare beneficiaries
navigate Medicare health insurance options, choose the right plan and
enroll in select plans online through Medicare.com (www.Medicare.com),
eHealthMedicare.com (www.eHealthMedicare.com)
and PlanPrescriber.com (www.PlanPrescriber.com).

For more health insurance news and information, visit eHealth’s Consumer
Resource Center.

Contacts

DMA Communications for eHealth, Inc.
Sande Drew, 916-207-7674
sande.drew@ehealth.com
or
eHealth,
Inc.
Nate Purpura, 650-210-3115
nate.purpura@ehealth.com