Walgreens and GoHealth Launch National Effort to Help Simplify Enrollment Process and Educate Consumers Considering Health Insurance Marketplaces

DEERFIELD, Ill., October 03, 2013 - With an ongoing need for consumer education and awareness to help people understand their health insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) and Chicago-based GoHealth today announced a nationwide initiative and collaboration to assist customers, and to help provide a resource for those considering the new health insurance marketplaces.

Walgreens store personnel are directing individual customers who inquire to the GoHealth Marketplace, a resource where they can shop and compare health insurance plans, enroll and find other important tools and information. Consumers can access the GoHealth Marketplace online from www.walgreens.com/healthcarereform or via phone at 855-487-6969. Walgreens also is providing informational brochures and other materials in stores.

“As an accessible, community health care provider serving more than 6 million people each day, Walgreens can help connect those customers who may be considering new health insurance options with resources and information,” said Brad Fluegel, Walgreens senior vice president and chief strategy officer. “Our goal is to help ensure people fully understand the marketplace, and working with GoHealth, to provide personalized consultation from experts who can help them make informed decisions.”

Customers receive one-on-one support from licensed GoHealth advisors who can help guide them through the selection and enrollment process (over the phone or online). As an approved Web-Based Entity, the GoHealth Marketplace offers all plans available on the federal and state marketplaces – and can assist individuals regardless of income level or subsidy eligibility.

“A partnership with Walgreens gives us an opportunity to reach a population that needs our help,” said Clint Jones, CEO of GoHealth. “Educating and enabling consumers to enroll is core to our mission of helping individuals and families obtain the right health insurance coverage for their unique needs.”

According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 51 percent of Americans say they don’t understand how the Affordable Care Act will affect them or their family. Public confusion is especially prominent among the uninsured, as 62 percent say they don’t have enough information about the health law.¹

“We know people will have a lot of questions and many may feel overwhelmed,” Fluegel said. “This collaboration furthers our ongoing efforts to help those who may be entering the marketplace to be better prepared and make informed choices. GoHealth is an ideal partner for this program, and together we look forward to creating a seamless experience that simplifies the process and provides the information and support people need to get, stay and live well.”

The www.walgreens.com/healthcarereform website serves as a resource providing an overview of key reform changes including coverage dates, summaries of who and what conditions will be covered and other important information. There are also links to GoHealth to request assistance, obtain cost estimates and to enroll.

“Walgreens should be commended for recognizing the direct connection between health insurance coverage and a consumer’s overall health,” added Brandon Cruz, President of GoHealth. “Using our technology and benefit advisors to simplify the health insurance enrollment process allows more Walgreens customers easy and comprehensive access to the coverage available to them.”

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2013 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to be the first choice in health and daily living for everyone in America, and beyond. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,117 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers, provider practices, and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

About GoHealthInsurance:

GoHealthInsurance and its customer-facing website GoHealthInsurance.com is a health insurance technology platform, working with over 300 health insurance carriers and more than 10,000 licensed agents across the United States. Since the company's founding in 2001, the GoHealth platform has helped nearly 30 million Americans shop and compare health insurance quotes.

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¹ http://kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-august-2013/

Walgreens
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