Independence Blue Cross Enhances Member Site with WebMD Health Information, Resources

Independence Blue Cross Enhances Member Site with WebMD Health Information,
Resources
Personalized self-service site helps members take charge of their health

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine having your health care
information at your fingertips, in one convenient place. No more surfing the
Internet to find reliable, personalized, information. Independence Blue Cross
(IBC) announces the launch of an enhanced member website at www.ibxpress.com,
which offers one convenient source for members' health care needs.

Through a collaboration between IBC and WebMD, one of the most recognized
brands of health information, IBC members can now access clinically accurate,
relevant health care information with ease. The site uses the latest
technology and WebMD's trusted health resources.

"We are very excited about the launch of our new, enhanced member website,
ibxpress.com," said Joseph A. Frick, president and chief executive officer of
Independence Blue Cross. "The Internet has changed the way people make
decisions. They have become comfortable with using the web for other aspects
of their lives -- banking, travel arrangements, and major purchases. The same
trend is evident in health care. More health care consumers are taking a
proactive role in their health, especially as they better understand the
connection between health care costs and lifestyle choices."

"Our customers are asking us for resources and tools to help them make
decisions to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, and we are delivering.
This new website offers our members leading edge content, tools, and
interactive learning opportunities to help them make the right choices for
good health. We are passionate about empowering our members and providing them
the new and progressive ibxpress.com to make managing their health online as
easy and familiar to them as banking online," Frick said.

"As health care reform puts a spotlight on people's role in healthy living, it
is more important than ever that we help educate our members so they can make
informed decisions about their health. We think they will like what they find
as they discover all that ibxpress.com now offers," Frick added.

Ibxpress.com leverages IBC's consumer website experience and WebMD's proven
technology and expertise in personalized health information services. By
providing tools targeted for specific health situations, ibxpress.com helps
IBC members better manage physician visits, monitor prescription drugs they
use, easily find a doctor or hospital equipped for their needs, learn more
about the risks and rewards of various health decisions, and use interactive
applications to improve their lifestyles.

"Many of our members already use the Internet to find information about health
conditions, and check their symptoms," said I. Steven Udvarhelyi, chief
medical officer for Independence Blue Cross. "By combining health management
resources from WebMD with IBC's member-specific information and medical and
prescription drug data, the enhanced ibxpress.com better meets members'
individual health needs."

IBC can send targeted messages to members based on their preferences,
conditions, or demographics. For example, a member who expresses interest in
losing weight can receive helpful tips and articles focused on diet, exercise
and nutrition to improve her health.

IBC members will appreciate the interactive learning opportunities and
practical features available on ibxpress.com:
-- a personal health risk profile that provides personalized reports and
action plans targeted to the member's individual risk factors to help
them adopt healthier behaviors;
-- lifestyle improvement programs on nutrition, smoking cessation,
exercise, weight management, and stress management;
-- a treatment cost estimator that helps members estimate costs for
hundreds of common conditions, procedures, tests, and health care
visits;
-- the WebMD Medical Encyclopedia, which explains medical terms in an
easy-to-understand, consumer-friendly manner;

-- physician and hospital finder tools enable members to find
participating
providers and compare hospitals by location and quality outcomes.

Employer group customers, more than ever before, are asking IBC for help in
promoting healthy lifestyles in order to help them manage health costs, Dr.
Udvarhelyi explained. Member empowerment in health care ties directly to the
bottom line. He said employers are 'getting it' and want to encourage their
employees to take an active role in changing behaviors and managing their
health.

IBC's enhanced consumer website is free, easy to use, and secure. In addition
to the enhanced features, members will still be able to:
-- review claims and obtain tax-year reports;
-- view payment responsibility reports, which show how much IBC paid for
a
claim and any amounts the member may owe;
-- request and print temporary ID cards;

-- view and print referrals as needed.

"With enhanced consumer tools available 24/7 for self-service, IBC is striving
for optimum member health which results in better quality of life and
ultimately medical cost savings," Dr. Udvarhelyi added. "In addition to our
enhanced ibxpress.com, we offer many other programs and services to help
members take a more active role in their health and become better informed
health care consumers."

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern
Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide
coverage to nearly 3.3 million people. For more than 70 years, Independence
Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the
changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.
Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently
received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality
Assurance.

Independence Blue Cross supports comprehensive health care reform that would
extend coverage to all Americans, reduce costs, and improve quality. We also
advocate reform that builds on the current employer-based system that
currently serves 170 million Americans. Learn more about our views on health
care legislation now working its way through Congress by visiting our website.

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross

Karen Burnham of Independence Blue Cross, +1-215-241-3106,
Karen.Burnham@ibx.com