Anthem Introduces Health And Wellness Web Site For Baby Boomers And Seniors

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby boomers and seniors can now access online information and tools tailored specifically for their health and wellness needs through http://anthem.com/ . LifeAfter50, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s (Anthem) new, easy-to-use and easily accessible Web site developed specifically for those age 50 and older, is designed to help Anthem members become more knowledgeable about their health care when it’s most convenient for them.

According to a recent report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the number of Americans over the age of 50 who use the Internet daily has jumped by 47 percent between 2000 and 2004. In addition, there has been sharp growth among those in that age group looking for health information and shopping online.

“More and more older Americans go online in search of health and wellness information without knowing exactly where to go, or they become frustrated with all the sites they have to visit to obtain different information,” said Mary Scanlon, Anthem’s vice president of eBusiness. “Anthem created LifeAfter50 to address these needs. The new site not only combines a variety of health and wellness resources into a single, comprehensive Web site, but the site’s fonts are bigger, images are richer, and the tabs are larger to fit the needs of the specific age group who will be using it.”

Visitors to LifeAfter50 can perform the following functions at the site:

* Access product information and get a quote -- LifeAfter50 offers easy access to a wealth of individual and family products that people can purchase directly online.

* Order prescriptions -- LifeAfter50 provides instant access to Anthem Prescription Management’s secure, online ordering system.

* Search for a health care professional -- LifeAfter50 incorporates Anthem’s online provider directories to give members the ability to search for health care professionals when it’s most convenient for them.

* Shop for health and wellness products -- LifeAfter50 integrates SpecialOffers@Anthem, Anthem’s online program that offers discounts on health and wellness products and services from national, brand name vendors.

* Read health and wellness content -- LifeAfter50 offers seamless access to MyHealth@Anthem, Anthem’s medically certified and award-winning health and wellness information resource, where members can read articles and search medical libraries to suit their specific needs.

* Sign up for a Medicare-approved drug discount card

* Access links to other sites that offer more health and wellness information for those age 50 and older.

“Anthem’s mission is to improve the health of the people it serves,” said Mark Boxer, Anthem’s chief information, strategy and business development officer. “Providing online health and wellness resources like LifeAfter50 is just one more way that Anthem is trying to help members become more involved in their health care.”

Anthem’s mission is to improve the health of the people it serves. The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies provide health care benefits to more than 12.6 million people. They are subsidiaries of Anthem, Inc.; all are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, Maine and Virginia, excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. More information about Anthem is available at http://www.anthem.com/ .

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

CONTACT: Heath Weber of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,+1-513-336-2678, heath.weber@anthem.com

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