PacifiCare of California, Cypress, has launched a new line of products for small employer groups, products available via the Internet.
Called Premier plans, the products will offer smaller companies, those with 2 to 50 employees, online access to HMO, PPO, POS and Group Life plans. The plans are offered at a discount, to reflect the lower cost of doing business online, an increase of $5 in pharmacy co-payments and a 3% reduction in commissions for brokers, said PacifiCare spokesperson, Cheryl Brady.
Health insurance premiums for small group employers are expected to increase by 9% in Orange County in 2000, but the new products are expected to cost 10% to 12% less than what the market is charging, PacifiCare officials said.
The plans will be offered on PacifiCare’s web site, www.pacificare.com/needinsurance, and through online insurance channels such as einsurance.com and insweb.com, as well as traditional insurance brokers. At the web site, customers can download benefit summaries and applications, as well as receive preliminary quotes on new plans.
