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Zoom+ Eyes Washington Insurance Market

By late fall, the insurer anticipates going after large employers in Seattle and Vancouver with new clinics opening in those areas.
June 16, 2015

With at least two employers under its belt – New Seasons Market and DSU Trucks -- Zoom+ is heading to Seattle and Vancouver, having filed initial paperwork with that state’s insurance commissioner.

If all goes well, large employers could begin offering ZoomCare benefits early next year. To accommodate growth, new clinics are being opened in both cities, Denise Honzel, president, told The Lund Report.

“We definitely hope to be in that market,” she said. “We’ve already been getting requests from large employers to be in the Clark County area, but can’t offer plans until we’ve been authorized by the insurance commissioner. Our goal is to get through this process as quickly as we can.”

Honzel confirmed that Zoom+ has signed up two smaller employers – under 100 employees – in the Portland area, under the leadership of Kathy Prosser, vice president of sales, but those companies aren’t being identified. “These are good size companies and good matches for Zoom,” Honzel added.

Currently, there are no plans to move into the neighboring states of California or Idaho, but, no doubt, CEO Dave Sanders is keeping a watchful eye. With millions of dollars invested by Endeavor Capital last year, Sanders is in a prime position to make such a move.

Although Endeavor hasn’t disclosed the amount, as a matter of policy, it did make a substantial investment, which could be worth up to $25 million, Sanders said earlier On the Portland-based firm’s website, Endeavour acknowledged that its typical investment ranges between $25 million and $100 million, ”however it does have the ability to invest substantially more.”

Oregon Exchange

Right now Zoom+ has its eyes on the individual market in Oregon, and anticipates drawing between 4,500-10,000 lives after enrollment begins in November. By offering the lowest rates compared to its competitors, Zoom+ hopes to attract people who prefer its neighborhood clinic model, giving them more immediate access, and the opportunity to talk to a healthcare professional online.

“People who are more tech savvy,” said Honzel, calling them the 19 to 49 year-old crowd. “We believe that people who like our model will join us.”

In early September, Zoom+ will release details about its individual health plan, which will allow people to use ZoomCare services at no additional charge, and pay a deductible for care outside its clinic walls, Honzel said.

“We’ll be offering the standard benefits required by federal law,” she explained. “And people can make tradeoffs, with a free choice of what’s offered at ZoomCare where we can offer more affordable rates, versus a broader network where they’ll have to pay a little more for their care. As we develop new services and new products, we’ll be very attractive to people who like our model.”

Bent on expansion, ZoomCare will begin offering imaging services, alternatives to the emergency room and more specialist services later this summer. Together, in Oregon and Washington, it will have 28 clinics, said Honzel.

She joined the company last fall after 25 years at Kaiser Northwest as vice president and health plan manager, and spent five years at the Oregon Health Leadership Council as executive director.

Diane can be reached at [email protected]

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