New large group offering: Connect Blue EPO, a Community Blue plan

Connect Blue EPO, a Community Blue plan, is a new, lower-cost, three-tiered EPO plan design with no out-of-network coverage (except for situations such as emergencies and compliance with consent decree provisions).

It will be available on July 1, 2015, for large group clients (51+) headquartered in one of the following western Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Erie, Mercer, Washington and Westmoreland.

Connect Blue EPO enables members to save money by offering three levels of in-network benefits, all with high-quality care providers in the Community Blue network. The three levels of in-network benefits give members the power to choose the care, place and price that is right for them. The level of benefits will depend on which provider the member selects to see.

• Preferred Value Level of Benefits = lowest member cost-sharing
• Enhanced Value Level of Benefits = moderate member cost-sharing
• Standard Value Level of Benefits = highest member cost-sharing  
• No out-of-network coverage (except for situations such as emergencies and compliance with consent decree provisions)

Connect Blue's providers who participate in the Preferred Value Level of Benefits features all Allegheny Health Network (AHN) hospitals, which includes Allegheny General, Allegheny Valley, Canonsburg, Forbes, Jefferson, Saint Vincent and West Penn Hospitals. Also participating in the Preferred Value Level of Benefits are St. Clair Hospital, Sharon Regional Health System, Washington Hospital, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, as well AHN's joint ventures with UPMC for the Cancer Institute in Erie and independent providers throughout the region.

Target market for this product

Connect Blue is targeted to clients who are seeking a lower-cost premium, and want to offer lower cost-sharing. 

To learn more, contact your Highmark client manager.