Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett joined executives from eHealth Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH), a private online health insurance exchange, as the company announced the establishment of its new Eastern U.S. Technology and Operations Headquarters (HQE) in Indianapolis, which is expected to employ up to 500 Hoosiers by the end of 2023.
“Indiana’s pro-growth economic environment continues to attract innovative companies like eHealth to establish roots in our state,” said Gov. Holcomb. “I’m extremely grateful to see a Hoosier CEO bring business and new career opportunities back to Indiana. I’m confident that our business community and skilled workforce will play an integral role in eHealth’s growth and success for years to come.”
Publicly traded since 2006, eHealth has experienced dramatic growth in the last few years, with the company’s stock value increasing more than five-fold. The Santa Clara, California-based company plans to invest more than $10 million over the next three years to establish Indianapolis as its eastern headquarters, renovating and furnishing its newly-leased office located at 9190 Priority Way West Drive. eHealth currently occupies two floors totaling 56,276 square feet of space and has signed a lease to take over the entire 81,515-square-foot building by November 2022.
eHealth, which employs approximately 1,100 associates between its West Coast headquarters and customer care centers in Gold River, California; Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas. The company has already hired 125 toward its goal and is currently hiring for positions in software and engineering, human resources and sales. Interested applicants may apply online.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring eHealth’s Eastern Headquarters and several hundred high-wage jobs to Indianapolis,” said Scott Flanders, CEO of eHealth. “As a Hoosier native, I know that this is a great place to do business and find the talent we need to grow to service our rapidly expanding customer base. We are excited about this new chapter, and we look forward to continuing to expand our presence in the state. I believe in the local community and know Indiana’s leadership in the technology industry can help eHealth continue its success and rapid growth.”
Led by Flanders, an alumnus of Ben Davis High School and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, eHealth allows individuals, families and small businesses to compare health insurance products from leading insurers side by side and purchase and enroll in coverage online or through a licensed telephonic sales consultant. Founded in 1997 as eHealthInsurance, the company's technology was responsible for the nation's first internet-based sale of a health insurance policy in 1998. Through its technology and online marketplace, eHealth's mission is to turn complex health insurance information into an objective, user-friendly format and simplify the process for consumers to find, compare and purchase the plans that best suit their needs. eHealth is licensed to market and sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and has insured more than 5 million people, offering more than 10,000 insurance plans from over 180 health insurance carriers.
“I couldn’t be more excited that CEO Scott Flanders and the team at eHealth chose Scott’s hometown of Indianapolis for their Eastern U.S. Headquarters,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “As a Midwest leader in technology and healthcare, Indy’s talent pipeline and quality of life make it an ideal choice for eHealth’s future growth. The new high-wage jobs announced today contribute to a greater ecosystem of opportunity for the residents of Indianapolis, and I congratulate eHealth on their continued success.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered eHealth up to $11.3 million in conditional tax credits and $200,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Indianapolis supports the project at the request of DevelopIndy.