Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Introduces New Low-Cost Individual Plans: CoreShare and Enhanced SmartSense and Premier Plans

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 16/PRNewswire/ --More and more Wisconsinites are looking for less expensive options for basic individual health care coverage and are asking what they can do to obtain lower-cost protection for their family's health care coverage. Today, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield introduced new low-cost CoreShare and enhanced SmartSense and Premier individual plans that will provide Wisconsinites with low-cost options for individual health insurance.

Whether you are self-employed, between jobs, have no health benefits at work, or want to retire early, an individual health care plan can help protect your health, as well as your finances.

"CoreShare is a simple plan design with some of our lowest rates, with premiums ranging from as little as $45 to $104 per month for a healthy 25-year old male in the Milwaukee area," said Larry Schreiber, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "CoreShare is for consumers who want a traditional plan but at a lower cost. With a vast range of deductibles and higher cost-sharing, CoreShare helps lower monthly premiums. It provides full major medical coverage, while giving out-of-pocket protection, and protection against unexpected health care costs."

For consumers comfortable with sharing more of the cost for medical expenses, the CoreShare plan offers solid protection at reduced premium levels. CoreShare offers a range of deductibles and coinsurance levels. The lower deductible levels have 50 percent coinsurance, while the higher deductibles pay 100 percent of the charges once the deductible has been met. CoreShare offers:

• Choice of nine deductibles and simple plan structure;
• Range of deductibles from $750 to $25,000;
• $2 million per member in lifetime maximum benefits;
• Point-of-Service (POS) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) provider network strength and savings; and
• Access to health care across the country through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's BlueCard® program.

"Most individual plans on the market today offer limited options to lower premiums. With rates starting at $1.50 a day, CoreShare premiums are lower and offer multiple deductible options," said Schreiber.

In addition, Anthem has added some new low-cost optionsto its SmartSense, PremierandLumenos® plans:

• Premier:Two new options ($1,500 deductible with 20 percent coinsurance and $2,500 deductible with 0 percent coinsurance) can be selected without office visit co-payments for a lower premium. (Office visit will be subject to deductible and coinsurance when the "no office visit co-payment" is selected on these two plans.) 
• SmartSense: A new $3,500 deductible option has been added to the current SmartSense 30 percent coinsurance plan design. Also, four new SmartSense 50 percent coinsurance options are being added – they have the same plan design as the current SmartSense plan, but with coinsurance changed to 50 percent for a lower premium.
• Lumenos Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Three new deductible options have been added with preventive care, subject to deductible and coinsurance. The $1,500 Single/$3,000 Family deductible option has a 50 percent coinsurance for a lower premium.

Anthem's plans are available at a lower cost when its Blue Preferred Plus (POS) network is selected. The Blue Preferred Plus (POS) network features a large network with a lower premium rate than the Blue Access (PPO) network, but with the same flexibility of a PPO:

• Primary Care Physician (PCP) selection is not required;
• No referrals;
• Two levels of benefits: network and non-network;
• Access to network providers nationally and worldwide through BlueCard®; and
• Term life and dental plans are also available at an additional cost.

Members choosing Anthem's CoreShare, SmartSense, PremierorLumenos plan have access to more than 13,820 Wisconsin POS network doctors and specialists, and nearly 140 hospitals.

"As an independent broker, I work with a wide variety of consumers and, especially during these recessionary times, Anthem's CoreShare can help provide coverage to those who have just lost their job, or need coverage for their dependents. CoreShare is ideal for consumers who view health insurance as protection against unexpected health care costs, not a routine payment resource, and are interested in a higher-cost share plan for a lower premium," said Todd Catlin, president of Liberty Insurance Group.

For more information about CoreShare, SmartSense, Premier and other Anthem products, contact your local Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield agent, or call 1-800-742-8199 or visit at www.anthem.com.

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.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin