Anthem Delivers Online Discounts on Health and Wellness Products and Services to Members through SpecialOffers@Anthem

Indianapolis, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) today announced the national availability of its improved online lifestyle enhancement program, SpecialOffers@Anthem, developed specifically to help better the health and wellness of its members, while complementing their existing benefits.

Available via anthem.com, SpecialOffers@Anthem is a comprehensive and integrated assembly of discounted health and wellness products and services from a variety of the nation's leading retailers. SpecialOffers@Anthem enhances members' existing benefits by making available health merchandise for hearing, vision, dentistry, maternity, nutrition, fitness, weight management, and smoking cessation.

SpecialOffers@Anthem includes a focus on weight management, emphasized by an exclusive agreement with Jenny Craig, Inc., one of the largest weight management service companies in the world. Anthem's alignment with Jenny Craig enables its members to save 50 percent off select weight management programs and access Jenny Direct, Jenny Craig's at-home program that includes weekly, one-on-one phone consultations and food delivered via FedEx.

"Jenny Craig is very pleased to align with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to offer our services to millions of the health benefits carrier's members," said James P. Evans, chief executive officer, Jenny Craig, Inc. "This marks the first time that Jenny Craig has united with a health benefits carrier to collectively help people manage their weight, and we look forward to further cultivating our relationships with Anthem and its members."

Anthem members also may access Healthyroads for Living, available from Healthyroads, Inc. Healthyroads is a subsidiary of American Specialty Health, Incorporated. Convenient and private, Healthyroads for Living is a unique telephone and Internet-based weight management program that is specifically tailored to each individual's needs. Members speak with registered dietitians and certified personal trainers who provide support and guidance throughout all phases of the program.

"According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 60 percent of Americans are considered overweight," said Sam Nussbaum, M.D., Anthem's chief medical officer. "Obviously, this is a severe problem with significant medical consequences, and we're providing a wealth of programs and educational services at SpecialOffers@Anthem to help our members improve their health."

Members have access to Jenny Craig, Healthyroads for Living and other easy-to-use and innovative health programs through Anthem's unique wellness portals. Wellness portals combine vendors' products alongside relevant news and health care management programs. These overarching sites are specifically designed for large subsets of members who share similar interests or needs. They perform the initial "shopping" and resource selection, providing convenience and efficiency for members. SpecialOffers@Anthem contains four wellness portals: "The Woman's Store," focusing on women's health and wellness needs; "ButtOut," concentrating on smoking cessation programs; "Get Fit," converging products and services relating to fitness; and, "Eat Right," centering on nutrition and weight management.

In addition to discounts on health and wellness products and services, SpecialOffers@Anthem also integrates specific website resources that are tailored to the various health topics on which the program concentrates. MyHealth@Anthem, Anthem's information resource website, contributes personalized health news and online self-care centers to each of SpecialOffers@Anthem's programs, w