Tufts Health Plan and Granite Healthcare Network have signed an agreement to create a new insurance company to be known as Tufts Health Freedom Plan.

The five Granite Healthcare Network systems – Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital, LRGHealthcare, Southern New Hampshire Health System and Wentworth-Douglass Health System will form the core of Tufts Health Freedom Plan’s provider network.

“Tufts Health Freedom Plan was created to meet the needs of the residents of New Hampshire – to provide superior care management along with innovative health insurance products, all with the commitment to stabilize health care costs for our members and the business community,” said Thomas Croswell, president and chief operating officer of Tufts Health Plan.

Tufts Health Freedom Plan will offer an array of health plans for employers and their employees and will collaborate with other providers in New Hampshire to deliver health insurance. Members will have access to a broad provider network centered around the five Granite Healthcare Network systems.

Tufts Health Freedom Plan will seek an insurance license from the New Hampshire Department of Insurance and approval for product designs and rates once licensed, with a plan to launch operations by Jan. 1, 2016.

Tufts Press Release