Health-e-App was the first fully automated Web-based application in the United States for enrolling low-income children and pregnant women in public health insurance programs. Developed by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF), in partnership with the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the California Department of Heath Care Services, Health-e-App was created to demonstrate the impact information technologies could have on improving access to, and the business processes of, government-sponsored health programs.
The application was developed in 2000 and pilot tested in San Diego County. Subsequently, CHCF licensed Health-e-App to the state of California at no cost. Health-e-App is used throughout California to enroll eligible applicants in the Healthy Families and Medi-Cal for Children programs.
In December 2010, Health-e-App became publicly accessible, allowing applicants to log in from home, work, a library, or other public location to complete the application on their own. Today more than 40% of all applications received are submitted through Health-e-App. The state is working to integrate the Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program into Health-e-App.
In this video, Wendy Lazarus, founder and co-president of The Children's Partnership, discusses the advantages of Health-e-App.
Health-e-App offers a more secure, speedy, and consumer-friendly way to apply for public health insurance. It provides better quality and more complete application data and a more streamlined enrollment process, and it shows promise of increasing program enrollment because it is quick and easy to use.
Health-e-App offers:
- Automated error checking and computation of income and deductions;
- Real-time preliminary eligibility determination, in a matter of seconds;
- Online selection of providers and health, dental, and vision plans;
- Electronic payment of premiums;
- Electronic signatures;
- Confirmation of application submission;
- A toggle between English and Spanish versions; and
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
For more information, see the links below, especially the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board's Health-e-App site, which provides access to the application.
Business Case Analysis of Health-e-App
A June 2001 report, Business Case Analysis of Health-e-App, was produced by The Lewin Group. The independent analysis outlines key benefits and gives Health-e-App high marks from program administrators, applicants, and certified application assistants (CAAs) who help families apply for coverage. The study found that real-time eligibility screening, online provider and plan selection, and confirmation of application receipt contributed to strong customer satisfaction with the streamlined application process.
The full report and executive summary are available as Document Downloads.