Forty Percent of Participants Were Previously Uninsured

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2003 - eHealthInsurance, the nation's leading source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, today released its fifth national study on the cost and comprehensiveness of plans purchased by individuals and families nationwide using its free online service. The study reveals that the premium costs paid by families in the sample have decreased by 8.1%, to $91 per family member per month within the last six months in comparison with what was paid in the prior six months. The premium costs paid by individuals in the sample for health insurance plans is unchanged in the same period of time, averaging $148 per month.

"The number of uninsured Americans is on the rise, and yet this report is good news for many of them who don't know that they can save money by comparing health insurance options online," said Gary Lauer, CEO of eHealthInsurance. "Forty percent of those who purchased health insurance through our site were previously uninsured and were surprised to find that there are affordable plans available to them."

In addition to the premium costs paid by consumers, the study also reported on the co-pays and deductible levels selected by consumers, the type of plans they purchased, and the percent of consumers whose plans include prescription drug coverage.

In its semi-annual Cost and Comprehensiveness of Individual and Family Health Insurance report, the company studied a sample of about 56,000 health insurance policies purchased from February 2003 through August 2003 using www.eHealthInsurance.com nationwide. Consumers chose their plans from the carriers and plans available in their state. Nationally eHealthInsurance.com offers more than 4,000 plans from among 140 of the nation's leading health insurance providers.

To view the full report on the Cost and Comprehensiveness of Individual and Family Health Insurance go to our Expert Center.

About eHealthInsurance

Since its founding in 1997, eHealthInsurance, Inc. (www.eHealthInsurance.com) has become the nation's leading source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses. The company sells health insurance in states that represent about 98 percent of the U.S. population. eHealthInsurance offers more than 4,000 health plans underwritten by more than 140 of the nation's leading health insurance companies. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA and has a customer care team of more than 100 representatives and licensed professionals that assist consumers before, during and after the purchase of health insurance plans.

eHealthInsurance.com is a registered trademark of eHealthInsurance Services, Inc.