DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In an effort to address high health insurance premiums in Colorado’s mountain communities, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado and HMO Colorado (Anthem) is proud to announce a new plan created in partnership with a local hospital and the region’s leading health care provider that is aimed to lower individual premiums in four mountain counties.
Working in collaboration with Vail Valley Medical Center in Eagle County and Centura Health -- which includes St. Anthony Summit Medical Center, Mercy Regional Medical Center and a network of about 75 providers in Summit, La Plata and Montezuma counties -- Anthem will offer its new Mountain Enhanced HMO plan to residents of those four counties. While the rates are currently pending approval by the Division of Insurance, once all approvals are obtained, Mountain Enhanced will be available to consumers interested in purchasing insurance both on and off the Colorado health exchange marketplace beginning Jan. 1, 2015.
Mountain Enhanced is exclusive to the Centura Health network and Vail Valley Medical Center, and brings together three organizations committed to finding ways to enhance the availability of, and accessibility to, quality health care services across the full continuum of need at reduced costs. This plan helps to keep health care local, giving mountain residents the ability to receive care from physicians and providers in the communities where they live and work.
“Anthem is committed to providing high-quality, affordable health care solutions. I commend the leadership at Centura Health and Vail Valley, especially Centura Health’s president and CEO Gary Campbell and Vail Valley Medical Center’s senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer Charlie Crevling, for being so willing to step up to make such a difference in their communities,” said Mike Ramseier, president and general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado.
“As Eagle County’s community, nonprofit hospital, we are committed to finding viable initiatives to address rising health insurance premiums,” said Vail Valley Medical Center President and CEO Doris Kirchner. “Mountain Enhanced is a good option for local individuals to receive quality health care close to home and at a reduced premium.”
“Centura Health is more than a health care provider, we are a community partner, and are working hard to find solutions that meet the health care needs of consumers,” said Gary Campbell, president and CEO, Centura Health. “Our partnership with Anthem to create this exclusive mountain health plan helps us carry out our combined vision to deliver optimal health care value and support population health management. By making health care more accessible and affordable in our mountain communities, we will ensure consumers receive high-quality, convenient care, at an affordable cost.”
Once rates are approved by the Division, Mountain Enhanced Blue will be available to individuals purchasing insurance both on and off the Connect for Colorado Health Exchange, which begins 2015 enrollment on Nov. 15. It will include Anthem’s unique benefits such as its 24/7 nurse line and 360 degree health and wellness programs like Condition Care, which helps members with complex medical conditions receive help following their doctor’s care plan.
For more information on the Mountain Enhanced plan, please visit anthem.com or call 1-866-777-0607.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado:
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ® HMO products are underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc.. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin
About Centura Health:
Centura Health connects individuals, families and neighborhoods across Colorado and western Kansas with more than 6,000 physicians and 17,100 of the best hearts and minds in health care. Through our 15 hospitals, six senior living communities, health neighborhoods, physician practices and clinics, home care and hospice services, and Flight For Life® Colorado, we are making the region’s best health care accessible and affordable in every community we serve. We believe you can inspire the people you care about to live healthier lives by encouraging them to do the little things that can make a big difference. We’re Centura Health, and we’re here for your health. For information about Centura Health or any of the facilities in our network, please visit www.centura.org.
About Vail Valley Medical Center:
From modest beginnings in 1965, Vail Valley Medical Center has grown into one of the world’s most advanced mountain hospitals, providing Olympic-quality sports medicine, leading evidence-based research, modern cancer care and extensive cardiology services – all top-quality services with exceptional outcomes. An independent, nonprofit medical center, VVMC keeps hundreds of jobs and resources local, better serving our community and visitors. Providing superior health services with compassion and exceptional outcomes, VVMC offers expanding services, low infection rates, free community services and top-rated patient satisfaction scores.