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Press Release

Oscar and MercyOne Announce Partnership to Offer Affordable Health Insurance and Care in Iowa

Sep 29, 2020
Visual - NewsRelease OscarMercyOne v3
Contact
Jackie Kahn
Published
Sep 29, 2020
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  • Pending regulatory approvals, Oscar and MercyOne will offer seamlessly connected health insurance and care in 23 Iowa counties.
  • Oscar Individual and family plans will be offered through the ACA marketplace in Des Moines, Dubuque, Waterloo and Sioux City.
  • Members will receive high quality care provided by expert MercyOne providers dedicated to improving clinical outcomes, enhancing experience and reducing cost while enhancing clinicians’ experience.
  • Members get savings and a better experience through Oscar’s digital tools, including dedicated Care Teams and 24/7 access to Oscar Virtual Urgent Care providers at $0,(1) and $0 Tier 1 prescriptions.(2)
New York, NY, & Clive, Iowa -- Oscar, the first tech-driven health insurance company, and MercyOne, a connected system of health care facilities and services dedicated to helping patients and communities live their best life, announced today they are partnering to offer Oscar Individual and Family health insurance plans in 23 counties in Iowa beginning in 2021, pending regulatory approval. During the upcoming Open Enrollment period, Iowa residents in the following counties will be able to purchase Oscar Individual and Family health plans which include affordable coverage of MercyOne’s network of high-quality providers and services: Black Hawk, Cerro Gordo, Dallas, Dubuque, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Plymouth, Polk, Warren, Woodbury, Jackson, Jones, Buchanan, Delaware, Bremer, Chickasaw, Butler, Floyd, Hancock, Franklin, Mitchell, and Worth. These health plans are anticipated to be sold on the federal health insurance exchange, with coverage to begin on January 1, 2021.“We look forward to a lasting relationship with MercyOne and our shared commitment to bringing personalized care to 2021 Oscar members in Iowa,” said Mario Schlosser, CEO and Co-founder of Oscar. “Oscar’s mission is to deliver a better experience with more savings, and we’re proud to be partnering with MercyOne to give more Iowa residents affordable access to their network of high-quality providers.”“As part of our commitment to improve the access and availability of health care services to Iowans and to adopt more contemporary approaches to achieve our goal of providing personalized and radically convenient care to Iowans, we are pleased to be part of this innovative partnership with Oscar to provide even more local health insurance options,” said Bob Ritz, MercyOne President and CEO. “As evidenced in this pandemic, a focus on health and wellness is critical. We believe all should have access to affordable care as part of our commitment to the well-being of people.”Nearly 1 in 10 Iowa residents do not currently have health insurance, including 38,000 people who have lost their coverage along with their employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the new partnership, more Iowa consumers will have access to a seamlessly connected clinical and insurance experience driven by the combination of MercyOne’s expert network of providers and Oscar’s consumer-centric, tech-driven approach to customer service and care navigation. Pending regulatory approvals, Oscar and MercyOne health plans and care will include: Health care coverage designed around each members’ needs.
  • MercyOne’s extensive network of providers across Iowa communities with care available close to home.
  • Oscar takes a personalized approach to member experience – each member is assigned a team of Care Guides and clinicians, including a nurse, who know the member’s medical history and help them navigate their plan, schedule appointments with MercyOne providers in the member’s area and network, and collaborate with those providers to deliver a seamless member experience and health savings.
  • Oscar members have 24/7 access to Oscar Virtual Urgent Care Providers at $0 for whenever a member needs to see a doctor quickly.(3) Tier 1 prescriptions are $0 when prescribed by Oscar Virtual Urgent Care providers, too.(4)
Easy-to-access specialty, pharmacy and wellness benefits designed to deliver savings.
  • Affordable coverage of MercyOne’s comprehensive medical services across all major specialty areas of care, including MercyOne Iowa Heart, MercyOne clinics and numerous MercyOne Population Health Services Organization Partnered Providers– with no referral needed.
  • Pharmaceutical benefits beyond Virtual Urgent Care such as the $3 Prescriptions drug formulary, which includes 100 of the most commonly-prescribed medications for $3 or less.(5)
  • Convenient tools and perks like the Oscar App, Oscar Step Tracking, and more.
Oscar and MercyOne look forward to delivering a better, affordable health care experience which fits the lives of Iowa members in 2021 and beyond. MercyOne will continue to work collaboratively with other health insurance companies. About Oscar Oscar is the first health insurance company built to make health care easy. Headquartered in New York City, Oscar has been challenging the health care system's status quo since our founding in 2012, developing seamless technology and providing personalized support to help our members navigate their health care. Oscar was the first insurer to offer $0, 24/7 telemedicine to members and to integrate direct scheduling with providers through our app.Oscar plans also include access to a network of first-rate physicians and hospitals, as well as a personalized Care Team that supports members every step of the way, from finding a doctor to navigating costs. Oscar is known for its easy-to-use digital tools, including a website and mobile app that let members view their health history, speak directly with their Care Teams and virtual providers, and access their account information.All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Oscar Management Corporation, including Oscar Insurance Company and its affiliates. Say hi or learn more at www.hioscar.com or follow us at twitter.com/OscarHealth.About MercyOne MercyOne is a connected system of health care facilities and services dedicated to helping people and communities live their best life. MercyOne’s care providers and staff make health the highest priority. The system’s clinics, medical centers, hospitals and affiliates are located throughout the state of Iowa and beyond. Headquartered in central Iowa, MercyOne was founded in 1998 through a collaboration between Catholic Health Initiatives (now CommonSpirit Health) and Trinity Health – two of the country’s foremost, not-for-profit Catholic health organizations. Partner media contact: Kassi Hoxmeier, MercyOne, Division Director of Communications, 515-358-9231, khoxmeier@mercydesmoines.org
Contact
Jackie Kahn
Footnotes
  • (1) If you’re away from home, this benefit is not available in US territories or internationally.
  • (2) Tier 1 prescriptions and labs are $0 when arranged by an Oscar Virtual Primary Care Provider. Some Tier 1 prescriptions are unavailable via virtual visits. Other exclusions may apply.
  • (3) If you’re away from home, this benefit is not available in US territories or internationally.
  • (4) Tier 1 prescriptions are $0 when arranged by an Oscar Virtual Primary Care Provider. Some Tier 1 prescriptions are unavailable via virtual visits. Other exclusions may apply.
  • (5) Available as a pre-deductible benefit on all Oscar Individual and Family plans in Iowa except for Silver and Bronze High Deductible Savings Plans.