The Maryland Health Care Commission Selects Benefitfocus Technology to Provide Small Group Health Plan Comparison Portal

Maryland small businesses benefit from centralized portal for health insurance information

Charleston, S.C. – April 27, 2010 – Benefitfocus®, the largest healthcare and voluntary benefits software provider in the U.S., today announced that they have been awarded the contract to develop a Web portal labeled VIRTUAL COMPARE by The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), an independent regulatory state agency. The portal offers a simple design that transforms complex information into understandable content, allowing employers to consider health plans in the same way consumers shop for products through retail websites.

VIRTUAL COMPARE is an information-only Web portal that allows small employers with 2-50 employees to compare side-by-side benefit details, limitations, cost sharing and premiums for the health plans that are offered by Maryland licensed insurers, non-profit health service plans, and HMOs. The portal is a tool to help employers find plans that meet their needs. At any time in the process, employers can contact carriers directly, or search for a registered insurance broker/agent to assist them in their purchasing decision.

Insurance brokers/agents within the State of Maryland can self-register with VIRTUAL COMPARE to be listed in the online directory. The registration process can be completed within minutes, and includes brief educational videos to get brokers/agents acquainted with the site.

“VIRTUAL COMPARE gives us the opportunity to provide technology that supports a new way for employers to find health benefits for their employees. Employers now have one place to access health plan options from multiple carriers,” said Shawn Jenkins, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. “Because our technology is designed to adapt to changing requirements, the Benefitfocus Platform will help states, carriers and employers respond to the evolving healthcare landscape.”

Some of the insurance carriers invited to participate in this innovative health plan communication portal include: Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield, Coventry Health Care, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare. Using a Software as a Service (SaaS) model, Benefitfocus hosts, updates and manages the configuration and presentation of health plans on the VIRTUAL COMPARE website. Carriers and brokers can immediately take advantage of this new market without requiring the usual investments in technologies or infrastructure.

About the Maryland Health Care Commission The Maryland Health Care Commission is an independent regulatory agency whose mission is to plan for health system needs, promote informed decision-making, increase accountability, and improve access in a rapidly changing health care environment by providing timely and accurate information on availability, cost, and quality of services to policy makers, purchasers, providers and the public. The Commission's vision for Maryland is to ensure that informed consumers hold the health care system accountable and have access to affordable and appropriate health care services through programs that serve as models for the nation.

About Benefitfocus Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare and voluntary benefits software provider in the U.S. with 10,569,020 consumers, 326,986 employers, 57,956 brokers and 2,932 carrier representatives live on the Benefitfocus Platform™. Benefitfocus offers a single Web-based platform for benefit shopping, enrollment, management and industry standard data exchange. Benefitfocus – All Your Benefits. One Place. www.benefitfocus.com