WASHINGTON --7-Eleven Inc. has joined PayNearMe in a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to help reach financially underserved and other cash-preferring consumers and encourage them to sign up for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare."
HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced the first-of-its-kind partnership at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Washington, D.C., where PayNearMe demonstrated how consumers would receive receipts printed with information on Open Enrollment.
"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 Burwell. "With this partnership, we are using digital platforms to place Open Enrollment information in the hands of consumers who need it."
During this year's Open Enrollment period, all PayNearMe receipts printed at 7,800 7-Eleven c-stores nationwide will include a special announcement that informs consumers about upcoming ACA deadlines and encourages them to explore beneficial options such as tax credits and newly available plans at HealthCare.gov.
Putting these reminders at the bottom of PayNearMe receipts will help get health coverage information into the hands of traditionally hard-to-reach consumers. Because PayNearMe receipts serve as a consumer's proof of payment for important items such as rent, loans and utilities, they are more likely to be inspected and retained than a traditional receipt.
In addition to rent, loans and utilities, PayNearMe also allows cash-preferring consumers to pay with cash for online purchases and more at participating 7-Eleven stores and other retail stores nationwide.
"Banked or unbanked, cash or plastic--no matter what your preference, everyone can benefit from affordable health care," said Danny Shader, PayNearMe's founder and CEO. "By partnering with [HHS], we can help generate awareness of this open-enrollment process among consumers."
PayNearMe, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the electronic cash transaction network that enables consumers to pay rent and utility bills, repay loans, buy tickets, make online purchases and do much more with cash. Consumers can make payments on their own schedule and in their own neighborhood in less than a minute at one of more than 17,000 locations including 7-Eleven, Family Dollar and ACE Cash Express stores across the United States.
Dallas-based 7-Eleven operates franchises or licenses more than 10,400 7-Eleven convenience stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 54,400 7-Eleven c-stores in 16 countries. During 2013, 7-Eleven c-stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion.
Open enrollment in the Insurance Marketplace runs through Feb. 15, 2015. Health coverage can start as soon as Jan. 1, 2015 for consumers who sign up by Dec. 15, 2014. Consumers who already have health coverage through the Marketplace will generally be reenrolled into their same plan but can also shop for new coverage if they choose.
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