Reprinted from Indian Country Today

Taking on Health Insurance

By David Melmer
Indian Country Today

LARAMIE, Wyo. - A new use of an Internet Web site could help a group of families who want to acquire low-cost, high-quality health insurance.

It's a new twist on an old concept; strength in numbers offers stronger market share and mass buying brings lower prices.

John Tempte, Shoshone/Arapaho, got the idea while in college then finessed it to create the Web site www.eSwarm.org.

Tempte's goal, which he says is doable, is to collect up to 50 million names of people who want to be included in a group that, by shear numbers, will leverage insurance companies to provide low-cost insurance to the eSwarm collective.

John Tempte hopes young Native Americans take to eSwarm.

"The concept of swarming is to create a huge pool. Because of buying power we are able to do it. The same reason Wal-Mart can order in bulk, when they place an order it represents so much of a market share they get a better deal," Tempte said.

With the creation of a large pool of people eSwarm can negotiate with large insurance companies to provide low-cost or at least affordable health insurance. At first Tempte wanted to make the offer strictly to American Indians so they could select a health care facility of their choosing and not rely on Indian Health Services.

As the concept became known, other people asked to join so Tempte opened it up to everyone.

The concept is that we would be able to come together even in larger numbers than Microsoft or Intel. That's the premise behind the whole thing," Tempte said.