MILWAUKEE — With Wisconsin’s health insurance exchange scheduled to open in October, this week Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield began previewing the products it intends to offer on the new marketplace to its insurance brokers and customers.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to continue our tradition of serving the people of Wisconsin by filing to participate in the upcoming health insurance marketplace,” said Larry Schreiber, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “While the final details and approvals related to the exchange are still pending at the federal level, we feel it’s best to communicate our product plans and intentions now so brokers can begin educating consumers and individuals can start evaluating their purchasing options.”
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s exchange products and network will not impact Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s group-based products and services, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will continue to offer group health insurance products to large and small employers through its agents and brokers statewide.
Those not affected by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s health insurance exchange products and network, include:
* Most Individual members who bought their plans prior to March 23, 2010 (also called Grandfathered plans);
* Seniors on Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage products;
* Employees who receive their health benefits through small group employers; and
* Employees who receive their health benefits through large group employers.
Individual health insurance policies purchased through the new health insurance exchange will be more accessible for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, and benefits for many consumers will be more comprehensive.
For the first year of the exchange marketplace, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is focusing its efforts around specific geographies and health care provider systems to ensure it can provide effective insurance solutions to meet people’s needs and a lower cost than might have otherwise been possible.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Individual products sold on the exchange will be connected to its “Blue Priority for Individual” focused network. Blue Priority is anchored by the Aurora Health Care system and also includes the ThedaCare and Aspirus health systems, as well as select doctors, specialists and clinics.
The counties covered by the Blue Priority for Individual network are: Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood.
“In an effort to slow the rise in health care costs, we are refining our networks to ensure that we have the right balance between access, cost of care and high quality outcomes for covered products and services,” Schreiber said. “We’re making more tools available to help members better manage their health and out-of-pocket costs. By offering a lower-cost product utilizing a focused network, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is working to address consumer demand for products that balance access with affordability.”
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will not sell Individual health insurance policies outside of the counties covered Blue Priority for Individual network. Inside that area, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Individual products will be available for purchase both on and off of the federally facilitated exchange in 2014.
Individuals with active Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance policies located outside of the Blue Priority network area will have the option to select a “new policy option” — which would maintain their existing network and benefits until December 1, 2014 — or seek coverage from another health insurer either on or off of the exchange marketplace. These individuals will receive a letter from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield outlining their options no less than 90 days before the end of their policy.
Schreiber stressed that detailed rates and product information are still pending final approval by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Once that approval is received, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will finalize contracts with its network providers and rate information will be available in the exchange marketplace in October.
“Wisconsin has long had a vibrant health insurance market and we expect that consumers will continue to have a broad range of options to meet their benefits needs – both inside and outside of the exchange marketplace,” he said. “Our focus is on providing affordable choices and we look forward to serving individuals purchasing health benefits through the exchange.”
The previewing of its health insurance exchange product offerings is a part of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s ongoing effort to educate consumers and make health reform work for its members. Upon final approval of its exchange products by the federal government, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will conduct an extensive outreach campaign to its customers to inform them of their insurance options, provide details on the focused network, and include a host of informational tools designed to help every consumer make the best coverage decisions for themselves and their families.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s products on Wisconsin’s Individual exchange marketplace will bear the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand name, and will be underwritten by its Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation entity.
Current Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members with specific questions about their insurance coverage should call the customer service number on the back of their ID card for answers and information.
Forward-looking statements about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin’s Individual product offerings contained in this press release are subject to change, pending regulatory approval and final marketing decisions by the company.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”) underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at http://www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
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View this press release online: http://anthemwi.tumblr.com/post/60840482267/anthem-blue-cross-and-blue-shield-previews-health
Contact: Scott Larrivee, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, 262-523-4746, scott.larrivee@anthem.com
