Vimo was recently featured in the LA Times in an article called Mix-and-Match Healthcare Coverage. It gives quite a few tips on how consumers can save on their premiums and then lists eHealth and Vimo as destinations to shop for coverage. With obvious differences in business models, the author discusses her experience in navigating the maze in the self-service world and in the broker-assisted environment. Her comments are insightful:
"The easiest way to get a read on prices is go online. Two good places to shop for coverage are websites operated by Vimo Inc. (www.vimo.com) and EHealth (www.ehealthinsurance.com). I tested both, using information about my family. Each site provided dozens of quotes minutes after I filled out a brief application. The policies offered by the two sites were similar.
But to get price quotes from Vimo, you must supply your name and contact information, which Vimo gives to half a dozen insurance agents. EHealth, on the other hand, will provide quotes without unleashing salespeople on you.
Indeed, after I went online, five agents affiliated with Vimo called me. Although that may not sound attractive, two of the agents actually made good suggestions.
For instance, one agent raised the possibility of getting a policy through a small-business group plan that he sold, which would eliminate the need for a physical exam. (If you aren't in good health, that's a good option that didn't show up on the websites.)
Another agent talked me through my family's insurance needs and suggested that my children and I be covered under separate policies. That would allow me to get a cut-rate plan while the kids would get more comprehensive coverage with lower deductibles."
A couple quick notes: Vimo, Inc. does not own eHealth and the author was contacted by four agents, not a half-dozen.
The lesson we can take away is that in our self-service, Amazon.com shopping world, consumers have a desire to research and shop for products on their own. The challenge in shopping for health insurance is that the product is complex. For the average shopper, speaking with an expert (a health insurance agent) is a requirement to find the right product. A spreadsheet or price sheet won't give you the tips and tricks that a broker can provide in the sales process.