Mia Connolly, New Jersey Market Director, Oscar Health, a member of the Quality Institute’s Plan Council.

Oscar Health has been described as a technology-forward company. How does Oscar use technology to better engage with its members?

We were founded to be both a technology company and an insurance company. Technology powers the health care experience and helps ensure we remain member-centric. It allows us to guide members to centers of excellence and use innovation, combined with deep member insights, to improve outcomes, lower costs, and humanize health care.

One example is Oswell, a first-of-its-kind AI health agent we launched this year. The tool allows members to ask questions, with answers being pulled from sources such as medical records and claims data to help guide their care experience. We can provide real-time answers, and physicians receive data from those interactions to support care. The tool has performed exceptionally well, resolving member questions with 86 percent high accuracy and quality.*

Oscar is a strong proponent of Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRAs. What are they and why are they a good option for employers and employees?

An ICHRA is an employer-sponsored insurance mechanism that empowers employees to make their own health care choices. Employers provide a defined, tax-free monthly contribution that employees use to select a plan on the individual marketplace.

Unlike traditional employer coverage, which typically offers only two or three options, employees can choose any plan available on the marketplace. For employers, costs are predictable and manageable. ICHRAs can help control and stabilize health care expenses, particularly for small businesses. The individual market is the largest risk pool and often has greater leverage than employers offering their own coverage.

With the ACA enhanced subsidies ending, what steps does New Jersey need to take to keep more people insured in the ACA marketplace?

We need to work together to strengthen the future of the health care marketplace. The history of the ACA shows that when consumers choose their own coverage, they drive quality, innovation, and efficiency. The individual market proves that consumers seek value and vote with their dollars.

To maintain coverage levels, we must find ways to provide financial support for consumers that keeps insurance within their reach. Health plans also need flexibility in plan design so consumers have greater choice.

There is an opportunity for New Jersey to educate employers about the value of ICHRAs. We are seeing that 84 percent of businesses adopting ICHRAs are offering health insurance for the first time. That means more people are getting coverage — a meaningful benefit for individuals and the broader health system.

If you could create two policy changes to reduce overall health care costs and premiums, what would they be?

First, as I just mentioned, we should remove barriers that limit insurer innovation. Allowing greater flexibility in plan design, including non-standard plan options, would give consumers access to a broader range of affordable choices.

Second, New Jersey could introduce tax incentives for employers offering ICHRAs. Several states have already moved in this direction. A tax credit could include additional incentives for small businesses, especially those offering coverage for the first time. Expanding support for ICHRAs is an effective way to increase enrollment and make health insurance more accessible.

Finally, beyond your professional life — who would be your real-life hero?

I would choose my Aunt Kathy, who is also my Godmother. My parents passed away when my brother and I were young, and my Aunt Kathy stepped in to raise us. She had not planned for that path, so it was an extraordinary personal sacrifice.

Professionally, she became a highly respected business leader, retiring as an executive in major league sports after many years with the same organization. She is my role model for dedication to family, friendship, and career — and without question, my real-life hero.

* Oswell provides general health and benefits information only. It is not a doctor and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The chatbot’s answers may be inaccurate or incomplete, and are not reviewed by a clinician. In an emergency, call 911. See Oscar Health’s Terms of Service for more details.