Tufts Health Freedom Plan Receives Approval to Offer Health Insurance to Small Businesses in New Hampshire

Business Wire

Approval brings local choice for high-quality, cost-effective health care

CONCORD, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tufts Health Freedom Plan announced today approval from the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) to begin offering health coverage for small groups. Tufts Health Freedom Plan brings a new suite of tiered and non-tiered commercial plans to New Hampshire, offering small businesses a new and local option to providing high quality, cost-effective access to health care.

Tufts Health Freedom Plan is owned by Granite Health, comprising five of New Hampshire’s largest high value health systems, and Tufts Health Plan, a nationally recognized and highly rated health plan based in Watertown, MA. Tufts Health Freedom Plan was created by the shared commitment of Granite Health and Tufts Health Plan to coordinating care and promoting evidence-based care practices to achieve the best health outcomes for members.

The approval brings new options, choices and benefits to employers and members with a statewide provider network. Some of the benefits include multiple copay options in tiered plans and cost sharing structures, allowing access to Tier 1 providers with lower cost shares, while still offering the choice of Tier 2 providers. Tufts Health Freedom Plan also offers an integrated solution through which it arranges and coordinates Health Savings Account administration with a preferred third- party administrator.

The products are being offered now through brokers for coverage that begins on or after January 1, 2016.

“Tufts Health Freedom Plan represents a fresh approach to health care coverage and we’re very excited to be able to provide new options to the New Hampshire market,” said Brian Wells, president of Tufts Health Freedom Plan. “The plan has a diverse product offering, all designed to provide exceptional care management and an outstanding member experience while lowering the cost of providing health care. While meeting with leaders across the state we heard from a number of them about the need for competition and more available options. Being able to offer new and more affordable plans is good for the New Hampshire economy overall as it will help reduce health care costs for employers.”

Tufts Health Freedom Plan has submitted large group product filings with the NHID and is currently awaiting approval.

About Tufts Health Freedom Plan

In 2015, Tufts Health Plan and Granite Health recognized an opportunity for New Hampshire and together created Tufts Health Freedom Plan. Designed with a shared vision of delivering the highest quality of care at a more affordable cost, Tufts Health Freedom Plan offers an idea that makes sense— groundbreaking collaboration between providers and a health plan that results in better care coordination and health outcomes.

Granite Health comprises Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital, LRGHealthcare, Southern New Hampshire Health and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.