Humana and Oscar Health enter commercial health insurance partnership

Health insurer Humana and New York-based insurtech startup Oscar Health have launched a strategic partnership to offer commercial health insurance to small businesses in Nashville, Tennessee area.

The companies will initially focus on small businesses with 50 or fewer employees in the nine-county Nashville area, according to the statement. The new plans will be available this fall, pending regulatory approval.

"This partnership is about coming together to reimagine health care coverage for small businesses and their employees, with an emphasis on simplicity and the end-to-end consumer experience," said Beth Bierbower, Humana Group and specialty segment president. "It’s gratifying to work with a partner like Oscar that is equally committed to helping members achieve their best health."

The announcement follows the recent launch of Oscar for Business, the country’s first technology-driven health insurance for employers in April 2017.

The health insurance product will deliver a unique member experience that leverages Oscar’s Concierge care teams that use data-driven alerts to help members with their care, 24/7 access to telemedicine and care search tools, and a mobile experience that empowers members to manage their health.

Mario Schlosser, CEO and co-founder of Oscar Health, commented: "We started Oscar for Business to bring a seamless, consumer-focused health experience to more Americans, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work with Humana to serve members in the Nashville area. Humana is an ideal partner for Oscar because of our shared commitment to innovation, technology, and our members."