Independence Blue Cross Partners with WebMD on Member Site

Independence Blue Cross (IBC), a Philadelphia-based health insurer, has launched Ibxpress.com, a new member Web site enhanced through a collaboration with health information site WebMD (New York), the carrier announced on Thursday.

Under the partnership, IBC members are able to access clinically accurate, relevant health care information from WebMD and its trusted health resources, according to a press release. The IBC member site provides tools targeted for specific health situations and aims to enable members to better manage physician visits, monitor prescription drugs they use, easily find a doctor or hospital equipped for their needs, learn more about the risks and rewards of various health decisions, and use interactive applications to improve their lifestyles, IBC says.

"Our customers are asking us for resources and tools to help them make decisions to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, and we are delivering. This new website offers our members leading edge content, tools, and interactive learning opportunities to help them make the right choices for good health," Joseph A. Frick, president and chief executive officer of Independence Blue Cross, said in a press release. "We are passionate about empowering our members and providing them the new and progressive ibxpress.com to make managing their health online as easy and familiar to them as banking online."

The new site features interactive learning tools such as a personal health risk profile, lifestyle improvement programs, a treatment cost estimator and WebMD's medical encyclopedia. IBC members will also be able to use the site to review claims and obtain tax-year reports, view payments responsibility reports, request and print temporary ID cards and view and print referrals as needed, according to the press release.