BCBS Association Adds Healthcare Reform to Suite of Online Tools

Washington, D.C.-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the national federation of 39 locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, has launched AskBlue Healthcare Reform, an interactive online tool with information about the Affordable Care Act.

AskBlue Healthcare Reform offers users who answer a few questions personalized information about the changes that will be most meaningful to them, the company says. Users receive a summary of what they've learned, the option to print or email their summary and access to additional resources at the end of the process.

Business owners looking to understand how reform will impact their business and their employees can also use AskBlue Healthcare Reform's business tax calculator to help determine if the business is eligible for a healthcare tax credit and understand other financial implications.

AskBlue was launched in June 2009 to help individuals who are uninsured, unemployed, have lost their employer-based coverage, or are not eligible for group benefits find individual coverage options. AskBlue en Espaol, its counterpart for Spanish-speaking consumers, debuted in August. AskBlue Medicare and AskBlue for Federal Employees debuted this fall.

Nathan Golia is senior editor of Insurance & Technology. He joined the publication in 2010 as associate editor and covers all aspects of the nexus between insurance and information technology, including mobility, distribution, core systems, customer interaction, and risk ... View Full Bio