Highmark Retail Store to Celebrate Grand Opening

Health insurance store in McKnight Siebert Shopping Center to hold grand opening on March 7

February 26, 2009

PITTSBURGH – Pennsylvania's first health insurance retail store, Highmark Direct, will celebrate its grand opening at the McKnight Siebert Shopping Center at 4885 McKnight Road with a grand opening on Saturday, March 7.

During the grand opening, individuals, families and small business owners can meet with a representative for a free assessment of their current health insurance and get answers to their health insurance questions. Current Highmark members can attend the grand opening to learn about the value-added benefits available to them, such as free visits with a nutritionist and discounts to health clubs.

The Highmark Direct store will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Highmark Direct will sell health insurance plans to individuals, seniors and small businesses. The store will also provide seminars and educational information about the value-added benefits that Highmark members have access to such as smoking cessation programs, weight loss programs, consultations with nutritionists and more.

"We know that the responsibility for purchasing and understanding health insurance is falling more to individual consumers, especially in these difficult economic times," said Kenneth R. Melani, M.D., president and CEO, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. "That's why we're opening our Highmark Direct health insurance retail stores in Pittsburgh and Mechanicsburg. We want to help individuals who may have to purchase health insurance on their own and small business owners looking for health plan options for themselves and their employees."

Highmark will open a second Highmark Direct retail store in Silver Spring Square at 6416 Carlisle Pike, Suite 1700 in Mechanicsburg, Pa. on March 21.

When a consumer visits the Highmark Direct store, they can meet one-on-one with a Highmark sales associate to discuss health insurance options and apply for health insurance coverage. The store will feature self-service kiosks where customers can shop for health insurance plans on their own or research additional Highmark member benefits. The Highmark Direct store will also hold seminars on health insurance topics at a variety of times throughout the month.

At the March 7 grand opening, individuals and their families will enjoy a day of activities and health-related information. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can play Nintendo Wii and get their photos taken with mascots from local sports teams including the Pirate Parrot or Iceburgh from the Penguins. From 1 to 3 p.m., a Highmark nutritionist will be in-store to discuss healthy eating habits. For more information about Highmark Direct, contact 412-544-5400.

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
As one of the state's leading health insurers and with nearly 70 years of community involvement, Pittsburgh-based Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves 3.1 million members. The company's mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield employs more than 5,000 people in the region and provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information about Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, visit www.highmark.com.