News

Carelink Goes Live With Interactive Website and Announces New Web-based Member Choice Program

Charleston, WV (June 15, 2001) - Ted M. Cheatham, President and CEO of Carelink Health Plans announced the debut of Carelink's new interactive website and the web-based Member Choice Program.

"Our members now have access 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. They can enter their secure personal account and perform transactions anytime," Cheatham said. "It gives our members the freedom to contact us at their convenience."

Carelink members now have the ability to request plan information or an ID card, request an address change, notify Carelink of other insurance, and view eligibility, benefits, claims, and authorizations. "This is like having a customer service representative in your computer," added Cheatham. Members also can search for participating providers and formulary medications.

Cheatham also announced the agreement with Healthyroads, Inc. which gives Carelink members internet access to complementary health resources.

"It's a great time to be a Carelink member. Our members have a tremendous amount of on-line options," Cheatham said.

"Many Americans use some form of complementary health care, including vitamins or herbal supplements. We are pleased to support Carelink's efforts to develop quality-driven, value-added online services for its members," said George DeVries, president and CEO of American Specialty Health.

By logging onto the Carelink site at www.chccarelink.com, members can link to Healthyroads for the following resources:

My Library – a library of comprehensive educational information on complementary and alternative medicine, including:

PDR® Family Guide to Natural Medicines and Healing Therapies™, a world-renowned reference on vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements;
AltMed-REAX, a comprehensive guide to interactions between dietary supplements and prescription or non-prescription medications, other dietary supplements, food, and alcohol;
Healthyroads Newsletter, a free, monthly e-mail newsletter with articles on nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and complementary health care; and
Ask Our Experts, personalized answers to health questions from online complementary health care providers.

My Store – a virtual store of more than 2,400 health and wellness products, including vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements, homeopathic remedies, sports nutrition products, skin care products, and health-related books and audio/video tapes at significant discounts.
Leading manufacturers include Nature’s Way, Mariposa Botanicals™, Eclectic Institute, Genisoy™, Kathy Smith, Living Arts®, Clif Bars®, and Botantical Sciences™, the Healthyroads private label.

My Profile – a comprehensive interactive program that includes a health assessment quiz and tools to provide information on personal health issues. Carelink members can better understand their current health status and plan new health goals by identifying potential risks. Assessment tracks on health, lifestyle, diet and goals are featured, as well as tools to predict heart disease risk and estimate body fat.

Further information on ASH may be obtained by calling
1-800-848-3555.