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INDIANAPOLIS – WellPoint has made available an online dental cost estimator for all its members through its local Anthem, Blue Cross and Unicare brands.
“WellPoint is one of the first major carriers to provide a ‘one-stop shopping’ site for members to access medical and dental procedure cost estimates,” said Derek Bridges, president of dental and vision for WellPoint.
The health plan saw increased member interest in cost control and benefit application. “WellPoint Dental felt it was important to align with the medical business and provide members further visibility to service costs so that they can make well-informed treatment decisions,” he said.
WellPoint derived its procedure costs from the contracted rates and fees that it negotiated with its network dentists. Bridge said the health plan chose to provide estimates and not actual costs because of the different cost structures, even within a particular zip code. WellPoint also designed its tool to be able to provide estimated ranges from dentists throughout the country.
WellPoint partnered with Subimo, a provider of healthcare decision support applications to large employers, health plans and financial institutions.
“As consumers are becoming more engaged in their own care decisions, they are demanding better access to information,” said David Shevock, vice president of marketing and product management for Subimo. “Our clients are continuing to innovate and stay ahead of the demand where they can.”
Currently Subimo works exclusively with WellPoint to provide dental cost information to consumers.
Shevock noted, however, “You will continue to see demand for more specific and personally relevant information by consumers. Our clients are increasingly interested in giving consumers tools to help them navigate the quality and financial implications of their healthcare decisions.”
The dental cost estimator is part of WellPoint’s overall company vision. “WellPoint wants to provide members access to quality information so that the best decision can be made for individual or family healthcare,” Bridges said.
In 2007, the health plan expects to continue its focus on its dental and vision products to see what further capabilities it can include to its cost transparency tools.
