Anthem Blue Cross And Blue Shield Introduces SmartSense And Premier Individual Plans For The Uninsured
Today, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) introduced two suites of PPO products called SmartSense® and Premier that will provide Missourians with more affordable options for individual insurance. These products are currently being sold with effective dates of October 1, 2009.
SmartSense PPO Plan
SmartSense is a new price-conscious, choice-driven health insurance plan ideal for individuals, “early” retirees, students and the uninsured. “SmartSense represents one of the best Anthem plans,” said Dennis Matheis, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. “Most individual plans on the market today offer limited choices. SmartSense can be tailored to fit your needs – and is one of our lower priced products, with premiums ranging from as little as $38 to $141 per month for a healthy 25-year old male.” Anthem’s SmartSense plans provide coverage for up to three physician office visits a year before a member has to meet a deductible, a number of preventive benefits and a choice of prescription drug coverage options.
SmartSense is designed to provide protection against expensive and unexpected medical bills and offers a variety of deductibles, starting at $500, that allow consumers to find a premium they can afford. Plans offer:
* Coverage for first three doctor visits with $35 co-payment before the deductible (per person per calendar year), then 30 percent coinsurance after deductible
* Choice of prescription drug benefits
* Inpatient, Outpatient and Professional Services coverage
* Coverage up to $7,000,000 per member in lifetime benefits
Premier PPO Plan
The Premier plan is designed for customers who want the security of a comprehensive benefit design with lower out of pocket costs. This plan is also a good choice for families with children, or those planning to have children. Comprehensive prescription drug coverage is included with no deductible for Tier 1 drugs (including generic and limited brand name drugs) and a separate deductible for all other covered drugs. The Premier plan provides unlimited coverage for office visits before having to meet a deductible, provides a number of preventive benefits, and offers the ability to add maternity coverage.
“Anthem’s goal is to reduce the percentage of Missourians who are uninsured,” Matheis said. “As we move forward, we’ll continue to focus on providing affordable plan options like Anthem’s SmartSense and Premier while maintaining the high quality and value-added benefits consumers have come to expect from us.”
Members choosing SmartSense and Premier have access to more than 10,000 Missouri network doctors and specialists and nearly 100 hospitals. These plans also provide coverage outside the state of Missouri through the Blue Card program. Term life and dental plans are also available at an additional cost.
“As an independent broker, I work with all of the health insurance carriers and Anthem has consistently brought some of the best products to market. Anthem’s new SmartSense and Premier plans offers a great combination of needed coverage at an exceptionally affordable price and a dependable carrier,” said Steve Lang, president, Lang Insurance Services.
For more information about SmartSense, Premier and other Anthem products, contact your local Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield agent or call 1-888-641-5224, or visit us at www.ANTHEM.com.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. 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 Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri is available at www.anthem.com.