Highmark Offers Temporary Health Insurance Alternative to Western and Central
Pennsylvanians
New PPO Options Gives Individuals More Health Insurance Choices
PITTSBURGH, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning Aug. 1 Highmark will offer a
new short-term health insurance option that will meet the need of individuals
who may be between jobs, recent college graduates seeking employment or those
persons awaiting longer-term health insurance.
"This coverage is reasonably priced and can last up to 180 days," said Ken
Cikovic, director of individual markets at Highmark. "This product will help
consumers who need coverage."
The product, called ShortTermBlue, is being offered in both Central and
Western Pennsylvania markets. This Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
product has three deductible options of $250, $500 or $1,000. For example,
persons age 30 - 34 with the $250 deductible would pay about $126 per month in
premiums. That same person with a $1,000 deductible would pay about $85 per
month in premiums.
Here are some of the medical expenses and services that are partially or
fully covered:
-- Inpatient and outpatient hospital facility
-- Emergency room services
-- Primary care physician and specialist office visits
-- X-ray, lab and other diagnostic testing
-- Routine gynecological visit and PAP test
-- Routine mammograms
-- Pediatric immunizations
-- Prescription drugs
Highmark will be advertising this new product and expects to distribute it
through Highmark's member Web sites, the customer service walk-in centers and
through insurance brokers.
"For a wide variety of reasons people of all ages can find themselves
without health insurance coverage," said Cikovic. "We are pleased to be
offering our members and prospective members another option."
Highmark Inc.
As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s
mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling
individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark
serves 4.6 million people through the company's health care benefits business.
Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care
programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to
improve people's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact
throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact
exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members
a greater hand in their health.
Highmark Inc. 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, visit http://www.highmark.com.
SOURCE Highmark Inc.
Leilyn Perri, +1-717-302-4243, leilyn.perri@highmark.com, or Kristin Ash,
+1-412-544-8971, kristin.ash@highmark.com, both of Highmark Inc.
