Walgreens and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Launch Joint Consumer Education Campaign in Preparation for New Health Insurance Marketplace
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association (BCBSA) today launched a national campaign to educate
consumers about the new health care reform law and provide them with key
information on how to access coverage and understand other changes they
may experience as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The
campaign centers on a new website, LearnAboutReform.com,
which offers consumers helpful information about the new ways they will
be able to purchase health insurance and the new benefits available to
them. Informational brochures will also be offered to consumers at
nearly all Walgreens drugstores across the country.
The educational collaboration between two trusted leaders in health and
wellness means consumers will have easy access to the information they
need to understand the changing health care landscape, right in their
own neighborhoods.
“The Affordable Care Act will expand access to health insurance for
millions of Americans and broaden health benefits, but many Americans
have had little experience purchasing health coverage and are confused
about what the law means to them,” said Maureen Sullivan, BCBSA senior
vice president of strategic services and chief strategy officer. “Blue
Plans have been working hard to help consumers navigate this new
environment and the coverage options that are available to them. Our
partnership with Walgreens is another example of our commitment to
ensuring that all Americans have the tools they need to understand these
changes and access affordable health insurance coverage that meets their
needs.”
“Walgreens is a trusted community resource for health and wellness
information, and through this collaboration we hope the millions of
Americans who will be entering the marketplace in October are more
informed and better prepared,” said Brad Fluegel, Walgreens senior vice
president and chief strategy officer. “There’s a lot of confusion, a lot
of questions and it’ll take a tremendous, collaborative effort to make
sure people have the information they need to make informed choices.”
The Affordable Care Act expands access to insurance for millions of
Americans who currently lack coverage, providing new protections for
American families as well as new options and requirements for employers.
It also changes how individuals and some small businesses purchase
coverage. The law is complex, and these changes can be a lot to absorb
for consumers. This educational campaign will help them understand their
options.
LearnAboutReform.com
will serve as a comprehensive guide to the law so that consumers can
make informed health care choices this fall. Website features include:
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Easy-to-understand explanations of what the new law means for consumers
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Frequently asked questions about eligibility for federal financial
assistance, the individual mandate and penalties for not purchasing
insurance
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An explanation of the enrollment process, and how the new Health
Insurance Marketplace or “exchanges” will work
-
Interactive links to a glossary of terms related to health care reform
The campaign also will include informational brochures and signage in
Walgreens locations nationwide to encourage consumers to learn about
reform and the new exchanges.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living.
Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most
convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and
trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and
advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy
services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail
service, along with respiratory services. These services help improve
health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed
care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the
public sector. The company operates 8,098 drugstores in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a
Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager
of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care
clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation
of 38 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and
Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for
100 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more
information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member
companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.
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Copyright Business Wire 2013