New consumer-driven health products to provide the information and incentives needed to improve health
Milwaukee, WI – Aug. 22, 2006-Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin will soon offer new, innovative health plan options for employers and individuals that will change the way consumers think about health care, helping them to lead healthier lives while also helping them gain control over the rising cost of care.
These consumer-driven health plans and services will be available starting January 1, 2007:
* Lumenos® Health Reimbursement Account
* Lumenos Health Savings Account
* Lumenos Health Incentive Account
* Lumenos Health Incentive Account Plus
Although Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield began offering high deductible health plans a few years ago, this new suite of Lumenos products will empower consumers as never before with health information, support tools, incentives and financial accounts to help them improve and maintain their health and wellness and better manage their health care costs.
For example, when members complete an online health assessment, enroll in a program with a health coach, successfully complete a smoking cessation program or make other healthy lifestyle choices, they will receive tangible incentives and rewards under these health plans.
These unique features, combined with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s network strength, innovative provider partnerships, local presence and powerful brand name will provide unparalleled value to consumers.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s new consumer-driven health plan options combine an employee- and/or employer-funded health account with traditional PPO health coverage. Each is paired with powerful online decision support tools and personal health coaching that consumers can use to learn more about their health care treatment and cost options. This will create more informed, empowered consumers more directly involved in health care decisions.
“Our goal with these new consumer-driven health plans and services is to improve the health of our members, which will also improve the efficiency of the health care system,” said Stuart K. Campbell, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “This puts consumers in control of their health care dollars and gives them an incentive to spend wisely and demand better health care quality and value. This consumer movement, which is sweeping through all parts of the health care industry, represents a major change in the way we will interact with our customers.”
Research indicates consumers have a limited understanding of the cost of medical care. Six out of ten people, surveyed by Harris Interactive, who had received treatment for a serious health issue in the last two years did not know the cost until after treatment was received.
“Anthem’s new consumer-driven products, which will be available to large and small businesses as well as to individuals, will make quality and cost data more accessible in order to create millions of better informed, more engaged health care consumers,” said Campbell.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is teaming up with Lumenos, a pioneer in the field of consumer-driven health products, with clients in all business sectors, including a growing number of Fortune 500 companies.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name used by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) and Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”), subsidiaries of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP). WellPoint’s mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership in the United States. Through its nationwide networks, the company delivers a number of leading health benefit solutions through a broad portfolio of integrated health care plans and related services, along with a wide range of specialty products such as life and disability insurance benefits, pharmacy benefit management, dental, vision, behavioral health benefit services, as well as long term care insurance and flexible spending accounts. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com.
