HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital BlueCross group customers are responding favorably to the company's private health insurance exchange called MyCoverage Selector(SM), which is powered by the award-winning ConnectedHealth platform and launched in the fall of 2012. Attention on private exchanges has grown rapidly over the past year, as more employers search for options that help them manage their costs while still providing robust benefits to their employees.

Miners Bank is one of the first Capital BlueCross employer groups to provide its workforce with health coverage through MyCoverage Selector.

"With health care reform in progress, we realized we needed to change how we offer health care coverage for our employees and their families," said Jennifer Reiner, Vice President/Director of Human Resources at Miners Bank. "Capital BlueCross' exchange has helped to rein in costs while providing our workforce choice among offerings that meet their individual needs. Our employees utilized Capital BlueCross' exchange to easily choose among a number of options. In addition, if the employees had questions or needed assistance choosing among options, Capital BlueCross' system helped guide them through the purchasing process."

"The health insurance needs of the business community are evolving, and Capital BlueCross is leading the change necessary to ensure employers and their workforces are equipped to make smarter, more cost-effective decisions that are right for them," said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Capital BlueCross President & CEO. "Our exchange doesn't just provide access to a menu of options, it helps shoppers decide which plan is best suited for their needs. That's what separates our exchange from other carrier models."

"Capital BlueCross is changing the landscape of the market by bringing innovative new solutions to its clients," said Joe Donlan, President of ConnectedHealth. "Capital recognizes that employers want to provide their employees with competitive options, and they understand that it is critical to give them the tools they need to make benefits selection easy. We're very excited about our partnership, and about making benefits easier in Pennsylvania."

The easy-to-use online platform lets employees shop for and choose their health insurance from a wide range of options, using a set dollar amount (a defined contribution) from their employer. The flexibility to select the plan they prefer, along with the platform's recommendations personalized to each individual, empower employees to make informed decisions to meet their personal health and financials needs.

MyCoverage Selector also allows business leaders to maintain their competitiveness as an employer because the defined contribution arrangement gives them more predictability in their benefit costs.

According to a Deft Research study conducted in 2011 among U.S. business managers, approximately 13 percent of all businesses that offer health insurance currently use defined contribution to fund it. That number is slated to grow to 27 percent by 2014.

A private exchange is one of a series of initiatives by Capital BlueCross to meet the evolving needs of the business community.

About Capital BlueCross

In 2013, Capital BlueCross is celebrating 75 years of serving central Pennsylvania and Lehigh Valley residents and businesses as the region's leading health insurer. Through community partnerships and by collaborating with area health care providers, Capital BlueCross brings innovative services and clinical solutions to the marketplace, while expanding and diversifying its comprehensive product portfolio. Committed to delivering medical value to its communities, Capital BlueCross focuses on improving patient satisfaction, enhancing quality of care and reducing costs. The company continues to lead the change in the industry by meeting the evolving health needs of its customers, most recently by entering the retail market and building a first-of-its-kind health and wellness store in the Lehigh Valley called Capital Blue. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, employing more than 1,800 people. More information about Capital BlueCross, its family of businesses, and its offerings for individuals and employers, can be found at capbluecross.com.

About ConnectedHealth
ConnectedHealth provides a private exchange and benefits decision-support platform for health insurers, employers, and consumers. The ConnectedHealth team, leveraging deep experience in helping consumers make health care decisions, has developed breakthrough technology to guide benefits selections. Only with ConnectedHealth can consumers review personalized plan recommendations based on their expected out-of-pocket health care costs and personal and financial preferences. The Company's ground-breaking approach helps consumers to think beyond their premium, so they are smarter about how to maximize their benefit dollars and protect themselves against financial risk. To learn more, please visit www.ConnectedHealth.com.

On behalf of Capital BlueCross, ConnectedHealth, LLC assists in the administration of MyCoverage Selector(SM), an on-line defined contribution tool. ConnectedHealth is an independent company.

SOURCE Capital BlueCross