New Hampshire Gov. Lynch Highlights Launch of NH HealthFirst

Small Businesses With Comparable Plans Could Save Thousands of Dollars a Year on Health Insurance Costs Beginning Tomorrow

September 30, 2009 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch today spoke with company officials and workers at Logo Loc in Manchester to highlight the launch of New Hampshire HealthFirst, a new wellness-focused insurance plan for small businesses that becomes available tomorrow.

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HealthFirst is comparable to the most popular, comprehensive health insurance plan for small businesses with an average 15 to 20 percent lower cost.

“We set out to give small businesses and their workers a more affordable health care choice - and that’s exactly what we are delivering today with New Hampshire HealthFirst,” Gov. Lynch said. “It is important that we create greater access to quality health care and HealthFirst is just one more way we are doing that.”

Small businesses that are already offering comprehensive health insurance for their workers could save thousands of dollars a year under through HealthFirst.

“HealthFirst will allow small business owners to continue to provide comprehensive insurance to their workers. This is so important because small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy and since most people get their health insurance through their jobs, small businesses are a critical link in our health care system,” Gov. Lynch said.

In addition to providing a lower-cost alternative for small businesses, New Hampshire HealthFirst is also about moving the state’s health care discussion in a new direction - to wellness and prevention. It is a plan focused on keeping people healthy, which will help reduce the state’s overall health care costs.

The New Hampshire HealthFirst plan fully covers, without co-pays, preventative health care and encourages people to develop a relationship with a primary care provider. It provides financial incentives for enrollees to quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight and participate in health management plans for chronic illnesses.

“Too many small businesses are facing decisions about severely limiting coverage, or dropping coverage all together. That is a decision no small business should be faced with, and one that could be devastating to workers,” Gov. Lynch said. “That is why we brought people together to develop New Hampshire HealthFirst, which is working to provide small businesses with a lower cost alternative to the most popular health insurance plan for small businesses currently on the market.”

For more information regarding New Hampshire HealthFirst, including the wellness plan design, go to www.nh.gov/insurance/media/NewHampshireHealthFirst.htm.

Source: New Hampshire Governor