In an effort to offer another health insurance choice, creditunions in Iowa and Nebraska will partner with CoOportunity Health,a multistate co-op, to make it happen.

The Des Moines, Iowa-based CoOportunity Health is a new healthinsurance consumer-operated and oriented plan that was created aspart of the Affordable Care Act to create new competition and new choice,the leagues in those states said.

It is one of 24 co-ops approved nationwide, but the only one to serve Iowa andNebraska. CoOportunity Health is managed by and for its members andany savings will be used to increase member benefits and lowerpremiums, according to the leagues.

Iowa and Nebraska credit unions will be the exclusive financialinstitution distribution channel for CoOportunity Health when openenrollment for health insurance begins on Oct. 1, the leaguessaid.

Between Iowa and Nebraska, there are more than 180 credit unionsserving approximately 1.45 million members.

Group Benefits Ltd. will serve as the preferred broker for thecredit union and CoOportunity Health partnership in both states,according to the leagues. GBL is based in Urbandale, Iowa and hasmore than 40 employees and a network of more than 1,000 agents inIowa and Nebraska.

“Through our partnership with CoOportunity Health and GBL, Iowaand Nebraska credit unions will be able to help our members closelypair the expense of healthcare with their financial well-being,”said Scott Sullivan, CEO of the Nebraska league.

The partnership among the Iowa and Nebraska leagues andCoOportunity Health has been in development for more than two yearsand is believed to be the first of its kind among cooperativesnationwide, the leagues said.

It will give participating Iowa and Nebraska credit unions thetools to provide member outreach and education on healthcare reformwhile making CoOportunity Health's insurance options available toindividuals, families and businesses.

“Credit unions know that financial well-being is directly linkedto overall health and well-being. We believe this link will onlyincrease in the months and years ahead,” said Patrick Jury, Iowaleague president/CEO.

Two priorities are to help credit unions decrease the averageage of members and increase market share, the league said. Throughthis partnership, CoOportunity Health and credit unions believepotential target markets will be young adults, uninsured, Hispanicsand small businesses.

“Credit unions serve as trusted advisors in their localcommunities,” Jury said. “Through our partnership with CoOportunityHealth, our members and those who seek out membership will haveaccess to vital information and new health insurance options at atime of great confusion and need.”

Jury said beyond offering credit union members an affordable,member-focused health insurance alternative, another benefit of thepartnership is that credit union health savings accounts can beestablished when a prospect enrolls in a qualified high-deductiblehealth insurance plan through CoOportunity Health.

Credit unions in both states are also looking into group healthinsurance plans as an option for their employees, the leaguesaid.

Iowa and Nebraska credit unions participating in the programwill be announced in the coming month. CoOportunity Health willbegin enrollment in October 2013 with effective dates of Jan. 1,2014.

The leagues said the health insurance partnership comes at anideal time for credit unions looking to serve the expanded healthinsurance marketplace expected as a result of the Affordable CareAct, which is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

Some estimates predict as many as 30 million previouslyuninsured Americans will begin shopping for coverage, the leaguessaid. An additional 80 million currently insured are predicted tobegin searching for a new provider when the act becomes law.