Massachusetts insurer teams up with New Hampshire hospitals to create new company

One of the largest insurers in Massachusetts is starting a health insurance company with five hospitals in New Hampshire.

The new company, called Tufts Health Freedom Plan, is a joint venture between Tufts Health Plan and the Granite Healthcare Network. The network includes Catholic Medical Center, Concord Hospital, Lakes Region General Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and their affiliates.

The company is seeking a license from the New Hampshire Insurance Department and plans to launch operations by Jan. 1, offering employer-based plans with a network of providers focused on high-quality, cost-effective care.

Harvard Pilgrim last year created a similar partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Elliott Health System in New Hampshire but didn't create a new company because it was already licensed in the state.