In an effort to help the more than 47 million Americans who are currently uninsured or underinsured, Mt. Kisco, N.Y.-based National Health Options has created a health care assistance program for employers, groups and associations.

"The program is designed to provide the consumer with options to purchase customized programs at affordable prices," says Richard Lungen, CEO of National Health Options. "We are going through strategic channels to gain access to members and consumers for them to have options in purchasing our products. It is a retail model at the actual consumer level for the underinsured and uninsured American."

The program will be launched in late June and will be targeted at employers who have part-time or currently un-eligible workers to help with their insurance needs. According to Lungen NHO will provide access to high quality health care products and services that can improve individual health and welfare.

"We are looking at retail stores that don't have benefits for their part timers and targeting the industry for these small employers who have not selected health care benefits because of cost," Lungen says. "We are looking to form strategic relationships and work with them to get down to their consumers."

By directly marketing to consumers and through insurance brokers, third-party administrators and channel partners, the program can mirror or supplement traditional employer benefit plans. Nobody will be excluded, including non-citizens or those with pre-existing conditions.

Comparing the program to the 'big box' shopping clubs, Lungen says that this will allow its members to find cost-effective options to access prescription drugs and health care services through a private network of nearly one million dentists, physicians and other health care professionals.

"We think we are have the strongest value proposition to achieve three key initiatives: access, cost and care," he says. "We believe that through telemedicine being offered 24/7/365, a pharmacy card guaranteed issue, no decline, patented technology and a lot of flexibility....That's what the reform bill is trying to achieve."

Among the highlights of the program are: thousands of brand name and generic drugs at significant discounts, competitive premiums, limited liability and short-term medical, hospitalization coverage, discount dental, telemedicine and even medical tourism.

"We took more than 60 years of health insurance and human resources experience to create the single, best solution available anywhere in the country," Lungen says. "Market receptivity is already palpable."

Visit www.nationalhealthoptions.com for more information.

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