Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida members and prospective members have a new way to interact with their health insurance company.
The Florida Blue center, which opened in January at 201 N. Westshore Blvd. in Tampa and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 24, allows customers to sit down face-to-face with sales representatives, nurses and other health professionals.
It's a three-tiered service program: identification of health status, management of health needs and quality/cost control, says Nicholas Kouris, senior market development manager.
"We want you to be able to really sit down, say what do you need, say how much can you spend, and determine what kind of coverage you require," Kouris says. "It's a constellation of services we're providing. It really is a very holistic way of delivering the best care service to members."
The center is the third Blue Cross and Blue Shield customer service center in Florida, joining those already in Jacksonville and Pembroke Pines. The others focus exclusively on sales, and this is the first center to offer such a broad array of services, Kouris says.
Customers and prospective customers can make appointments to consult with sales associates who will help determine the best insurance coverage options.
Members can take advantage of wellness programs coordinated by on-site nurses. Another service for members is comparison shopping among the area's hospitals and health-care professionals, an effort to help patients receive the best value possible.
Wellness seminars covering various topics will be held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. On the second Saturday of each month, the Florida Blue center will host a health fair with free health screenings, massages and health tips.
Writer: Carter Gaddis
Source: Nicholas Kouris, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida
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