Surgery News : Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Announces Member Discounts on Cosmetic Dentistry Services and Other Programs and Products through Special Offers@Anthem

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Announces Member Discounts on Cosmetic Dentistry Services and Other Programs and Products through Special Offers@Anthem

DENVER, Colo. & RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2005--As consumers demand more value for their health care dollars, health insurance companies like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield are increasingly focused on providing new value-added services to their members -- without adding additional costs to premiums. Special Offers@Anthem, launched in 2004, is designed to encourage and support healthy behaviors and lifestyles -- by delivering convenience and savings to Anthem members on the health-related retail products and services they routinely buy.

Members who shop at Special Offers@Anthem are offered a wide array of discounted health and wellness programs and products. For example, they may enroll in a weight-loss program, a smoking cessation class or a fitness center at greatly reduced rates. Significant savings also are available to members for laser vision correction procedures, brand name contact lenses, vitamins, health videos and books, hearing aids, and a large selection of baby and maternity health and safety essentials. Members may even send flowers or gift baskets to their friends and family through FTD, worldwide. In recent years, an increased focus on self-improvement and beauty has created an ever-increasing demand for cosmetic dentistry. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, whitening is the most requested cosmetic dental service by patients. And, 32 percent of dentists have noted dramatic increases in the demand for dental esthetic services. In response, effective February 2005, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will begin to offer discounts on certain cosmetic dentistry services through its SpecialOffers@Anthem program. Through SpecialOffers@Anthem, all Colorado and Nevada group and individual health plan members, as well as all Anthem Dental members, are eligible for a 15 percent discount on teeth-whitening services and dental veneers provided by dentists in the Anthem Dental network who are participating in the program. Anthem Dental coverage is not required to qualify for the discount. Covered dependents attending college in Colorado and Nevada are also eligible for the discount. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's mission is to improve the health of the people it serves. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP). WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com. The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. (R)Registered marks Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Sally Vogler, 720-373-4836 or 303-831-5899
sally.vogler@anthem.com