Healthaxis Inc. to Provide Producer Self-service to ConnectiCare, Inc.
Monday March 19, 7:50 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Healthaxis to License its Internet-based Broker Distribution Software Application
EAST NORRITON, Pa. & FARMINGTON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2001--Healthaxis Inc. (NASDAQ: HAXS - news), announced today a 3 year agreement to license its proprietary Insur-Broker(TM) software to ConnectiCare, one of the largest health plans in Connecticut.
ConnectiCare offers a full range of high quality programs and services on both a fully insured and self-funded basis. These include HMO-PCP, HMO-Open Access and Point-of-Service plans. Healthaxis, through its subsidiary, will license the application and host it in its North Richland Hills, TX Data Center.
``Our active broker base is roughly 1,500,'' said Mark Dixon, VP e-Business & Chief Information Officer of ConnectiCare, ``we see self-service as key for improving distribution to the broker community. Our relationship with Healthaxis will play an essential role in our continued geographical expansion. Brokers will log into a secured section within ConnectiCare's website and will be able to obtain a quote for a small group (1-50 employees) using either age-banded rating or composite rating, easily producing a quote and proposal.''
``We went through an intensive selection process,'' said Dixon, ``and the Healthaxis product was the strongest. It had the right functionality, ease-of-use, and technology to quickly and easily integrate with our existing way of doing business.''
``Healthaxis has a good track record of integration at a pace that's comfortable for the customer. We see this as step one in a process that will involve combining our offering with the Healthaxis product and ending up with something unique - something that makes it as easy as possible for brokers to do business with us. The Healthaxis product suite also includes capabilities for online enrollment and service, which will be attractive for future phases of this project,'' said Dixon.
Rich Grehalva, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Healthaxis, anticipates great things in the months to come. ``We will help ConnectiCare achieve its well thought out e-strategy of increasing market share by using technology to make it easy for brokers to provide quotes and proposals quickly.''
About ConnectiCare
ConnectiCare is an independent Connecticut-based health plan serving more than 260,000 members. It holds an ``Excellent'' Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial employer group and Medicare+Choice plans, and received a five star rating in the 1999 Newsweek review of managed care companies, one of jest 13 in the nation to be so ranked. ConnectiCare.com, provides information, news and self-service tools for ConnectiCare's members, prospective members, producers, healthcare providers and employer groups.
About Healthaxis Inc.
Healthaxis develops and implements state-of-the-art software solutions for healthcare benefits administration and distribution to reduce costs, improve productivity, eliminate hassle, and enhance customer service. Healthaxis develops innovative solutions that offer businesses in the healthcare industry distinct strategic advantages by quickly and efficiently connecting payers, providers, administrators, brokers, employers, and consumers (members/patients/employees). Healthaxis technology solutions enable customers to remain compliant with evolving federal regulations, such as HIPAA. Healthaxis products and services support customers by easily integrating flexible Internet-based applications - matching the customers way of doing business with the demands of the Internet marketplace.
Healthaxis Inc. (NASDAQ: HAXS - news) - For investor information, call (610) 275-3800. For information on Healthaxis products and software solutions call (800) 519-0679 or visit www.healthaxis.com. Healthaxis, e-powering healthcare.
Note on forward-looking statements: All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this release and elsewhere (such as in filings by Healthaxis Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, presentations by Healthaxis Inc. or its management or oral statements) relative to markets for Healthaxis' products and trends in Healthaxis' operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as ``anticipate,'' ``believe,'' ``plan,'' ``estimate,'' ``expect,'' ``intend,'' ``should,'' ``could,'' ``goal,'' ``target,'' ``on track,'' ``comfortable with,'' ``optimistic'' and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: (1) general economic and business conditions, including changes in purchasing patterns, prevailing interest rate levels, stock and credit market performance and health care inflation, which may affect (among other things) Healthaxis' ability to sell its products and have access to capital resources; (2) Healthaxis' ability to achieve anticipated levels of operational efficiencies; (3) customer response to new products, distribution channels and marketing initiatives; (4) changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations; (5) increasing competition in the sale of software solutions for the healthcare industry; (6) regulatory changes or actions, including health care regulation affecting the health insurance industry and software solutions products related to this industry; (7) actions by rating agencies and the effects of past or future actions by these agencies on Healthaxis' business; and (8) the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in Healthaxis' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
Healthaxis Inc.
Steven M. Kaplan, Director of Investor Relations
610/275-3800
skaplan@healthaxis.com
or
ConnectiCare
Mark Dixon, 860/409-6484
mdixon@connecticare.com |
