November 1, 2013

Mayor Emanuel Welcomes ConnectedHealth to Chicago; Company to Bring 85 Jobs to New Bucktown Space

Serial Chicago Entrepreneurs Continue to Grow Health & Technology Company as Health Reform Unfolds

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today welcomed ConnectedHealth, the nation’s first consumer-oriented benefits selection platform and marketplace, to Chicago. The company recently opened its new headquarters in the Bucktown neighborhood, and plans to increase its workforce to 85 employees in 2014, creating jobs and raising awareness around consumers’ health and financial well-being. The new 4,648 square-foot office is located at 2211 North Elston Avenue, space previously occupied by successful technology company GrubHub.

"I am pleased to see ConnectedHealth is thriving and is committed to growing in Chicago," said Mayor Emanuel. "Our talented workforce has helped spur strong growth in the health and technology sectors. Companies in this space are developing crucial technologies as they build healthcare exchanges, and as this industry continues to expand and evolve, Chicago and companies like ConnectedHealth will be at the forefront."

Formed in 2009, and previously operating from Chicago’s central business district (the Loop), ConnectedHealth’s online marketplace creates a transparent shopping experience via an innovative platform that guides employees in their benefit selections according to their needs. Over 20 million people have exclusive access to ConnectedHealth’s award-winning platform through their employer or health plan.

Earlier this summer, the company signed a partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer Qualified Health Plans (QHP) through the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM), which opened on October 1 nationwide. As one of only a handful of companies selected by the U.S. government to sell QHPs, ConnectedHealth’s clients can provide the same popular shopping experience to consumers, making it easy for both subsidy-eligible and non-eligible employees or health plan members to create personalized comparisons and select the right coverage options for themselves and their families.

“I’m thrilled to officially open our flagship office in the heart of Bucktown,” said ConnectedHealth president, Joe Donlan. “The city is a prime environment for health-technology innovation, giving us access to some of the best talent and resources in the country. As we continue to expand our operations, we are dedicated to supporting job growth in Chicago, while transforming the delivery of benefits for Americans nationwide.”

ConnectedHealth is led by the former founders of Subimo, another Chicago-based firm that pioneered the consumer-driven movement to develop health-care decisions-support tools. Subimo was acquired by WebMD in 2006.

“We are pleased to welcome ConnectedHealth to our growing roster of tech companies thriving in Chicago,” said World Business Chicago (WBC) President & CEO Jeff Malehorn. “ConnectedHealth’s creators have experienced building a company in Chicago, and purposefully chose the city for their next endeavor because of its prominent position in the technology and healthcare industries.”

Chicago is a healthcare industry leader. The city’s more than 20,000 healthcare-related establishments and 491,000 healthcare-related employees generated $45 billion in healthcare-related GDP in 2012. The city offers a significant pipeline of healthcare employees, with area colleges and universities enrolling nearly 60,000 students and granting more than 24,000 degrees in healthcare-related fields annually.

Fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurship is a key component of the city’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs. A blueprint to accelerate regional economic growth initiated by Mayor Emanuel, WBC is currently implementing the Plan’s strategies.

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ConnectedHealth drives corporate growth by making it easy for employees to be healthy and financially secure. Founded by pioneers of the consumer transparency movement, the Company’s award-winning consumer-friendly platform delivers innovative benefits strategies while offering consumers the most intuitive benefits shopping platform available.

World Business Chicago (WBC) leads Chicago’s business retention, attraction and expansion efforts and raises the city’s position as a premier global business destination. Chaired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, WBC fosters private sector growth through the advancement of a business-friendly environment that attracts world class talent, and is responsible for the implementation of Chicago’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs.


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