Guide To Health Insurance.org

About Group Health Cooperative

According to the National Cooperative Business Association, healthcare-related cooperatives are becoming quite popular with consumers in the past few years, since most healthcare coops have amongst their objectives:

• Keeping healthcare costs and insurance premiums affordable for individuals and small businesses
  
  
• Controlling prescription drug costs
  
  
• Keeping community owned, non-profit hospitals functioning and independent
  
  

Group Health was one of the leaders in the cooperative movement. Founded in 1947 by a community coalition dedicated to making quality healthcare available and affordable, Group Heath Cooperatives is a consumer governed non-profit health system that provides both insurance coverage and healthcare to its members. Headquartered in Seattle, Group Health Cooperative is the healthcare provider (through its subsidiaries, Group Health Options Inc and KPS Health Plans) of almost 600,000 members in 20 counties throughout the state of Washington and two counties in North Idaho.

In 2004, Group Health Cooperatives had a revenue of $2.1 billion. It employed just under 10,000 people, and had over 850 doctors on staff, including 45 specialists. The cooperative owned two hospitals, 25 primary care medical centers as well as a number of specialty care centers, vision and hearing centers. In addition, Group Health had contractual working relationships with 39 hospitals and more than 7,000 health practitioners.

Contained within the Group Health cooperative structure are its research arm, Group Health Center for Health Studies, and a medical services group where doctors and other clinicians provided care in facilities owned by the cooperative, Group Health Permanente. In fact, more than 70 percent of Group Health's members receive their medical care in cooperative-owned medical facilities.

Group Health Cooperatives also includes Group Health Community Foundation, an organization that uses philanthropy, healthcare innovation, and community partnerships to improve the health of young people, as well as promote diversity within the health care system. During 2005, the Foundation raised more than $2 million from almost 6000 donors, and provided grants of almost $600,000 to support community programs and research. It also had a total endowment of almost $15 million.

Group Health Options, Inc.

The actual provider of health care insurance is Group Health Options incorporated (1990). The company offers a range of health plans meant to provide choice and flexibility for individuals, as well as for small and large employers. Among the company's 12 separate health care plans are those that allow members to choose to be treated by doctors within the plan or by any doctor, anywhere in the world. Options are also available for federal government employees, expanded Medicare coverage, and plans suited for low income members. In addition, health care options that include healthcare services, dental coverage, and vision coverage are available.

Contacting Group Health

Group Health Cooperative may be reached at P.O. Box 34590, Seattle, WA 98124-1590, (888) 901-4636.