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Anthem Offers New "Advantage" to Members Product discount program includes unique smoking cessation program
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (April 2, 2002) - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's 4.9 million health plan members in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky now have access to discounted health-related products and services from several of the country's most highly regarded retailers through Anthem Advantage, available online at www.anthem.com. These members also have access to an innovative new smoking cessation program at a discount.
"Many traditional bricks and mortar companies have found that developing and deploying eRetail sales capabilities on the Web presents an opportunity to expand their businesses in new areas," said Mary Scanlon, vice president, eBusiness. "eRetail has been identified as a growth opportunity for Anthem and is now being tested through Anthem Advantage in the company's Midwest region. Efforts to expand this program further will be evaluated after the pilot is completed in June 2002."
"Anthem Advantage is a simple, cost-effective way for us to provide flexible, dynamic discounts on nationally recognized and respected health-related products." said Mark Isett, executive director of product development for Anthem Midwest. "We surveyed our members to see what kinds of products and discounts they wanted and then proceeded from there." Since Anthem Advantage's launch last September, new services and products have been added, including discounts on over-the-counter products like CVS.com, alongside a new customized bookstore and discounts on fitness clubs, massage therapists and eyeglasses.
"The website design showcases what the Anthem Advantage vendors have to offer our members and we are delighted with the early feedback we have received. The site is well-designed, interesting and easy to use," added Isett.
To help lower the high smoking rates in the Midwest states of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, Anthem Advantage now includes a unique smoking cessation product called "Butt Out." It includes discounts on a "guided imagery" module of CDs and a workbook, nicotine patches and books on quitting the habit. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Kentucky is the state with the highest rate of adults who smoke, ranking 50th in the country, followed by Indiana at 47th and Ohio at 44th among the population over 18 who smoke.
The "Butt Out" program introduces Anthem members to the relatively new concept of guided imagery motivational CDs which, used along with a workbook, help reinforce a smoker's desire to quit and teach him or her the skills to quit smoking for good. "We think offering discounts on guided imagery CDs is especially important in helping smokers to quit," says Samuel Cramer, MD., medical director for Anthem Midwest.
Guided imagery is a technique that uses the power of the mind and imagination to enhance the healing potential of the body – to help focus your mind and create imagery that helps you relax and deal with specific conditions (like smoking). "The technique has been used successfully to help people prepare for and recover from surgery more rapidly, among other uses," said Dr. Cramer. He added that guided imagery – in combination with discounts on nicotine patches and gum, books on how to quit, and access to the latest information on smoking through MyHealth@Anthem – gives Anthem members one of the most comprehensive resources of its kind.
Anthem Advantage offers discounted products and services from:
- Complementary BlueSM – complementary health care products and services
- GlobalFitTM – fitness club memberships and discounts on fitness equipment
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