Burwell spotlights health insurance enrollment at San Antonio H-E-B

The nation’s top health services official stood in the middle of the produce section at an H-E-B grocery store on San Antonio’s East Side Monday to talk about affordability and access.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell’s reason for venturing into the store was clear. She wanted to remind consumers of today’s enrollment deadline for those wanting their health insurance policies to become active Jan. 1. And she wanted to spotlight the new and improved HealthCare.gov enrollment website and its low-cost options for Texans.

With six weeks left to get her message out before open enrollment ends Jan. 31, Burwell said she is going to places where consumers congregate. That includes a barber shop in Charlotte, North Carolina; an affordable housing office in Austin; and the San Antonio H-E-B Plus at 4100 S. New Braunfels Ave. that she visited Monday.

“One of the things we think is most important is meeting the consumer where they are,” Burwell told reporters while standing in front of a display of mangos as curious shoppers stared.

She emphasized that seven out of 10 Texans will find a 2016 health insurance plan on the federal exchange that costs $75 a month or less once tax credits have been applied.

She also ticked through the revamped HealthCare.gov website, touching on its faster performance and a new search tool being tested that will allow shoppers to see if a health insurance plan considers their doctors to be in network.

“What we want to do is empower that consumer and give them the tools, so they can shop and make the choices that they need and want,” Burwell said.

Burwell’s staff has expressed satisfaction with Texas consumers’ response so far to this year’s enrollment effort. Her department revealed last week that more than 317,000 Texans have signed up for 2016 health plans sold on the federal exchange since enrollment began Nov. 1. More than 2.8 million consumers nationwide had signed up as of Dec. 5 — and about 1 million of those are new customers, Burwell said.

But this year’s shopping and enrollment experience hasn’t been totally free of bumps. Some Texans have been upset by the severe reduction or complete elimination of PPO health insurance plans from the federal exchange in some Texas markets.

Both Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Humana stopped selling PPOs to Texas consumers through the federal exchange before 2016 open enrollment began. In Bexar County, only Allegian Health Plans is selling PPOs on the federal exchange. In Houston, no PPOs are being sold on the exchange, which is the only place where consumers can apply for tax credits to reduce their health insurance premiums.

PPOs — preferred provider organization plans — have historically been the most popular type of health coverage in Texas because they allow some benefits when patients go out of network for their health care.

Burwell said private insurance companies have seen a “reduction in demand” for PPO health plans.

“It’s a private marketplace ... The private insurance companies have seen a reduction in demand for PPOs,” she said Monday. “That’s what they’ve seen year after year. And so what they’re doing is responding to the consumer. And that’s a part of what’s happening.”

Burwell noted the number of health insurance companies selling policies to Texas consumers through the exchange has increased for two years in a row. Oscar is the latest insurer to begin selling health plans in some Texas markets through the exchange

She also urged consumers to shop around for the best options, noting those who did so last year instead of automatically re-enrolling in the same plans saved on average $40 a month or $480 annually.

Burwell praised H-E-B for its efforts to raise public awareness of health insurance enrollment opportunities. The grocery giant has allowed independent insurance agents to operate enrollment booths at visible spots inside its stores near the pharmacies.

Two independent agents working at a booth at the H-E-B Plus that Burwell visited Monday said she thanked them for their efforts and asked for their feedback.

“We just mentioned to her that we know that the insurance companies are struggling with the pricing, which is affecting the customers, because their rates are going up,” said Adriana Freeman, an independent agent with Insure Prosperity’s San Antonio office.

Although open enrollment for 2016 health insurance plans continues through Jan. 31, shoppers buying products after Tuesday’s deadline will see their coverage become active later in the year — either on Feb. 1 or March 1 — depending on when they make their purchases.

Enroll America, Community First Health Plans and SRA International Inc. will host an eight-hour enrollment event and health fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Progreso Hall at 1306 Guadalupe St. on the West Side.

pohare@express-news.net