LAT: It's Insurance a la Cart: Costco Stores to Market Health Plans

[DeepModem Mom]

It's Insurance a la Cart: Costco Stores to Market Health Plans
A pilot program will offer individual and family coverage to 'executive' members.

By Debora Vrana, Times Staff Writer


Costco Wholesale Corp., the low-cost bulk supplier of breakfast cereal, motor oil and diamond rings, is adding health insurance to its warehouse shelves.

In a pilot program to be launched next month in Southern California, Costco will offer family and individual coverage to its customers who pay $100 a year for "executive" membership, company officials said. The insurance is aimed at people such as contractors, waiters and students who are self-employed or cannot sign up for plans at work.

Although other discount stores such as Wal-Mart and Target have begun offering limited health services in their stores, Costco says it will be the first to offer insurance to members. About 18 million households nationally belong to Costco, including 3.4 million who pay for executive membership.

Company officials would not quote premiums but said the insurance would be 5% to 20% cheaper than policies individuals could buy on their own. Costco expects to offer coverage statewide by the end of the year and may eventually make it available to regular members, said Dellanie Fragnoli, assistant vice president of insurance services at Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco.

"It's one of the more requested services by our members," Fragnoli said....


http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-costco9jun09,1,3918363.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=2&cset=true

[Triana]

1. Niece used to work for Costco...

...she seemed to like it. Said they were a pretty decent company.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Brilliant move

and a swift kick in the corporate ass of Sam's Club and Wallymart.

[Skink]

4. Presidential hopefools take note....

It can be done. The people want universal coverage.

[chicagojoe]

3. Cool. Costco is the progressive #almart.

We shop there all of the time.

[Justitia]

5. And they are a "blue" co. BTW, good idea for group ins!

http://www.buyblue.org/alphalist.php#c

I think this is a great idea to make group insurance available.
Wonder what the premiums are like?

[Beetwasher]

6. Costco Is a Waaaay Cool, Progressive Company

They totally kick ass, treat their employees really well and have a conscience, if such a thing can be said of a corporation.

[ecoalex]

8. Why must you pay $100 executive membership fee ?

Why can't a $45 Gold or Business member get it?

I do see some discrimination here, for any of their "services" you must be an "executive' member; $100 /yr fee.

I don't see this as progressive, or 'cool"

[fob]

10. Are you series? This is a hugh deal to help the regular joe/joanne.

Are you sure you didn't loose your way when you ended up here?

[Beetwasher]

11. Maybe They Should Just Give It Away For Nothing

Yeesh. They are still a business, after all.

:eyes:

Maybe you missed this part:

"Costco expects to offer coverage statewide by the end of the year and may eventually make it available to regular members,"

[4_TN_TITANS]

7. Wish we had one here.....

I'd go there in a heartbeat.

[cally]

9. Great!

I'm a small business owner and would like to buy group insurance. I'll look into this.