HHS partners with 7-11 Inc. to promote open enrollment

Customers at 7-11 stores who use a bill-paying system will receive information promoting the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period on their printed receipts.

Because the receipts serve as a consumer’s proof of payment for such things as rent, loans and utilities, they are more likely to scrutinized and retained than a traditional receipt, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which announced the joint venture with PayNearMe and 7-Eleven, Inc. on December 11.

“Leveraging developments from technology companies like PayNearMe helps us to reach our consumers where they are, with the information they need to sign up and re-enroll in quality, affordable care through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “With this partnership, we are using digital platforms to place Open Enrollment information in the hands of consumers who need it.”

The informational message will be printed on an estimated 7,800 receipts and will promote open enrollment to financially underserved and hard-to-reach individuals, says HHS.

HHS has been using diverse channels and partners to promote open enrollment to a wide cross section of the population.  It partnered with XO Group, Inc. to provide information on its websites for newlyweds and new parents, and has placed open enrollment content on job search site Monster.com, career networking site LinkedIn, and economy-sharing community Peers.org.

It's also partnered with higi, a health engagement platform, to feature open enrollment messaging on the overhead screens of health tracking stations located in retail pharmacies.

HHS has also placed staffers at kiosks in malls across the country that are owned by Westfield Corp. And agency partners have also been instrumental in promoting open enrollment, including the Health Resources and Services Administration, which sent a  "Rockin Enrollin" e-blast in conjunction with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland pointing recipients to healthcare.gov.

“These innovative companies help us to reach our consumers where they are with the information they need to sign up and reenroll in quality, affordable care through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Secretary Burwell. “With these partnerships, we are using digital platforms to get Open Enrollment information in front of consumers who need it.”