Blue Cross Introduces New Interactive Internet Service for Members; New Technological Advances Demonstrate Commitment to Meeting Members' Changing Health Care Needs.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 19, 1998--Blue Cross of California, the California subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed care companies, has introduced new interactive, self-service capabilities for members through the company's Web sites.

Blue Cross members now have direct access to their individual medical claims and benefit and eligibility data, in addition to information on providers that has been available through Blue Cross of California Web sites since January 1997.

The new self-service option, available through any Internet provider in combination with various browsers, enhances Blue Cross' informative source for all of the company's products and services. Members are given live access to membership and claims information from Blue Cross' mainframe system.

The interactive Web site is built on the same client-server architecture as Blue Cross' customer service system, CallCare. This capability gives members and customer service representatives concurrent access to identical information. It also allows members to send e-mail messages to customer service representatives, which are automatically routed to specifically designated customer service areas.

Blue Cross has taken steps to ensure that members' claims data remain secure. Members are issued individual personal identification numbers (PINs), similar to those used for banking transactions, that are required in the use of any transaction. In addition, the data sent to members online is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

SSL encrypts, or scrambles to prevent interception by outside parties. Customer service representatives are not given access to members' PINs, an additional measure designed to ensure members' maximum privacy and protection.

"We continue to implement products and services that respond to the changing needs of our members' health care," said Ron Williams, Blue Cross of California president. "This new capability was designed to save members time by reducing telephone inquiries typically made to customer service departments or human resources departments. It also ensures immediate responses to inquiries," said Williams.

The Web sites were designed to meet the individual needs of members. Employees of companies with more than 50 employees can access member self service at www.bluecrossca.com. Any member employed by a company with 50 or fewer employees, or who has purchased an individual policy, can access services through www.bluecrossofcalifornia.com.

Other self-service options that are currently available to members (depending on plan design) on the Web sites include:

-- Summary benefits for subscribers and members, including

co-payments, deductibles and benefit maximums

-- Details on primary medical group and primary care physicians for

CaliforniaCare HMO members

-- Status of outstanding medical claims and on-line explanation of

benefits

-- Provider directories and maps with driving instructions

-- Download printable versions of member and prescription drug claim

forms

-- Glossary of health insurance-related terms

Blue Cross of California, with nearly 4.4 million medical members, is the California operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed care companies. WellPoint serves the health care needs of more than 6.8 million medical and more than 24 million specialty members nationally.

WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including HMO, PPO, POS and specialty managed care products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration and Medicare supplements.