PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northwest’s largest health-insurance carrier has launched a Web site that provides members and their families with innovative tools designed to help them make better health care decisions. Regence officials say it’s all part of the company’s focus on putting the power of information in the hands of health care consumers.
Through the recently launched Regence Engine ( www.myregence.com ), members have direct access to hospital ratings, doctors’ profiles and cost breakdowns as well as health-related news and details on events in their local communities. They can provide direct feedback about the information to Regence by using the online forms available on each page. And, the Regence customer service staff is just a phone call or an e-mail away.
“Our goal is to create consumer-focused, customer-friendly services and tools. We’re using technology to improve the quality of our person-to-person interactions and to enhance the overall member experience,” said Mohan Nair, executive vice president and chief marketing executive. “The Regence Engine is designed to help members and their families make more informed health care decisions.”
Research conducted with Regence members shows that they want more control over health care spending and decisions for themselves and their families. More than 40 percent of Regence members surveyed said that they want more information about medical costs. And, they expect their health plan to help them find this information.
Regence has responded with the Regence Engine -- an interactive, online environment that offers members a one-stop approach for researching specific health issues, calculating annual health care costs and planning healthy activities for themselves and their families.
“While there is a lot of information available through the Internet, it’s difficult for people to determine what is accurate and to cut through the medical jargon,” said Nair. “Our members have told us that they want assistance in navigating the health care maze, but they want to be in the driver’s seat. The Regence Engine furthers our goal of transforming the health care system by providing a trusted source of information and putting the power back in the hands of the consumer.”
The Regence Engine gives members access to fitness, weight-loss and smoking cessation programs. Members who choose to participate in these programs and lead healthier lifestyles will receive Regence Rewards -- points redeemable for gift certificates to a wide variety of restaurants and retailers.
“We want to recognize those members who choose to learn about their health conditions and health care coverage. We want to reward those who choose to adopt health-minded behaviors,” said Nair. “The Regence Engine encourages members to take charge of their health care.”
Regence members may register and access the Regence Engine at www.myregence.com.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon provides medical, dental and related coverage for about one million members in Oregon and in Clark County, Washington. It’s part of the Regence Group, the largest affiliation of health plans in the northwest and intermountain states, collectively covering nearly three million people. The Regence Group and its affiliates are not-for-profit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nearly one in three Americans has health care coverage through Blue Plans. For more information, visit www.or.regence.com.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
CONTACT: Angela Hult of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon,+1-503-412-7902, or aehult@regence.com
Web site: http://www.bcbso.com/
