Anthem Blue Cross And Blue Shield in Indiana Launches Low Cost Health Benefit Option

November 27, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana has unveiled a new option for large and small businesses that struggle to afford comprehensive health benefit plans.

Blue Access Hospital Surgical PPO is a low premium, catastrophic health benefits policy that provides coverage for most hospitalizations and surgeries as well as most office visits and preventive care services.

"The low premiums make Blue Access Hospital Surgical PPO  more affordable for businesses that don't currently offer group health benefits and offers employees protection from a catastrophic loss due to an illness or medical condition," said Robert W. Hillman,  president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana. "It's another option for employers who otherwise might be forced to cut back or eliminate health coverage altogether because of budgetary constraints."

Blue Access Hospital Surgical PPO  provides access to the BlueCard® network of health care professionals, industry-leading disease and care management programs, an automated claims system and convenient online tools to help individuals better manage their health.

"This product provides a savings of up to 70 percent off a full range PPO plan, but still offers employers a competitive health benefits option that will help them attract and retain a productive workforce," said Hillman.

Members enrolled in the Blue Access Hospital Surgical PPO receive coverage for most hospital admissions and surgeries, coverage for state mandated preventive care and coverage for outpatient diagnostic services.  Also included are limited benefits for office visits that include most services with a co-payment and co-insurance, and generic pharmacy benefits ($10 retail co-pay and $20 for mail order).

This health benefit plan has previously been available in some areas to individual purchasers (those who do not receive health benefits from their employer). Now Blue Access Hospital Surgical PPO  is available for small and large businesses as well as individual purchasers. In areas where Anthem has sold this product on the individual market, our research indicated that 52 percent of the  enrollees were previously uninsured.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP), whose mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities.  It is the largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership in the United States, and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving 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.  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.  More information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is available at www.anthem.com.