ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD INTRODUCES NEW DEDUCTIBLE CREDIT PROGRAM ON SELECT INDIVIDUAL PLANS  source: Anthem.com (press release 2/13/12)

February 13, 2012 –St. Louis– More and more Missouri consumers are looking for less expensive options for basic individual health care coverage and are asking what they can do to save on cost for their family’s health care coverage. Often consumers don’t reach their health care coverage deductible, so Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) has introduced an enhanced Deductible Credit Program on select individual health products including SmartSense and Premier.

With the Deductible Credit Program, eligible subscribers who have not met their health insurance deductible in the preceding calendar year can receive a credit that they may apply to their deductible, lowering the expenses they have to pay out of pocket. If subscribers do not meet the deductible in a calendar year, the credits are not redeemed and roll over to the next year. The credits can continue to increase until they equate to half of the deductible.

“This program is a great fit for a person who rarely meets his or her deductible, but wants to be prepared for emergencies as well as a person who would prefer to pay a higher deductible in order to have lower monthly premiums,” said Steve Martenet, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. “This is a special offering for Individual customers who are looking to get the most out of their health coverage plan. It’s a program that puts money into a Special Incentive Account when you don’t meet your deductible, and grows that account to use for medical costs or whatever you want.”

If a subscriber is eligible, a Special Incentive Account is automatically set up. When health care claims for one year are less than the deductible, Anthem credits an amount equal to 20 percent of the deductible into the subscriber’s account for the next calendar year.

“At Anthem we care deeply about our Missouri customers and communities. We don’t want the cost of health care coverage to continue to increase,” Martenet said. “As we move forward, we’ll continue to focus on providing plan options like Anthem’s Deductible Credit Program and making more tools available to help members better manage health and out-of-pocket costs.”

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