Mercy Health Plans Licenses Technology from eHealth

Mercy Health Plans (MHP), a Chesterfield, Mo.-based subsidiary of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, has licensed technology from eHealth (Mountain View, Calif.), the company most well known for its eHealthinsurance.com Web site. Under the agreement, MHP will leverage eHealth's eCommerce On-Demand (eOD) technology for online quoting and other capabilities related to the online insurance shopping experience.

"It's vital that we use every channel available to reach the uninsured consumer, which is why an e-commerce platform that integrates more directly with consumers, our brokers, and underwriting process is an ideal solution," Kimberly Mernovage, director of marketing, Mercy Health Plans, said in a press release.

Brokers and agents in Arkansas and Missouri will use the eOD platform to prepare quotes and submit applications for individual and family health insurance plans to MHP, using a broker Web site designed and powered by eHealth, according to the release. Individual consumers will also be able to visit the MHP site to search for health insurance.

"By creating an e-commerce site that integrates into its broker-generated business channel, Mercy Health Plans has increased its online penetration, which we believe can powerfully contribute to their growth and success in these states," eHealth senior vice president of carrier relations, Robert Hurley, said in the release.

The eOD platform utilizes a SaaS (software as a service) delivery platform in an effort to improve ease of deployment. The solution is hosted, updated and supported by eHealth's technology operations and delivers eHealth technologies, such as electronic process interchange (EPI) and Universal Rate Engine.