Capital Blue store to open in Saucon Valley

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital BlueCross today announced that it has signed a lease to build the first-of-its-kind health experience called Capital Blue. The event took place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 4 at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in Center Valley, where the Capital Blue store is being built.

"Capital BlueCross is announcing today an exciting new chapter in our existence –  a chapter focused, not on the health care system, but on the people that system is meant to serve," said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Capital BlueCross president & CEO. "No store will have all the unique experiences and the customer service focus that people will find here at Capital Blue, and it is happening in the Lehigh Valley."

Slated for grand opening later this year, Capital Blue will have a strong focus on personalized care, allowing customers to better understand their health insurance options while taking advantage of on-site resources and experts to learn how to lead a healthier lifestyle.

For example, a person who walks through the doors at Capital Blue can meet privately with a licensed nurse for basic health screenings, learn about healthy cooking and eating, or even have a lesson on proper fitness and exercise. That same person can also sit down with a customer service representative to discuss what health insurance option makes the most sense for their personal and financial needs, review the status of a complex claim or ask a billing question.

Other services customers can take advantage of at Capital Blue include healthy snacks and beverages, better eating seminars, cooking demonstrations, and healthy and educational activities for children.

"This store is not just a store," said St. Hilaire. "Capital Blue is about the customer and the experience every person has when they walk through our doors, regardless of why they walked through our doors. It is also about the community and how we can continue to support the needs of our neighbors. We will be focused on delivering personalized service to anyone who visits the store with questions about which health insurance plan they should pick; how to find lower cost, but high quality treatment options; what steps they can take to lead a healthier life; and so much more."

In addition to St. Hilaire, the festivities featured comments by Tom Croyle, president of the Lehigh Valley Business Coalition on Health Care, and Tony Iannelli, president & CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.                 

"The Coalition is proud to partner with Capital BlueCross," said Croyle. "Capital BlueCross has truly embraced the concepts of delivering value and helping businesses manage their health care dollars.  The retail store concept demonstrates how our health care is evolving.  It's another great tool for the region's employers, employees and the general public to help manage their health."

"For years Capital BlueCross has been an important part of the Lehigh Valley," said Iannelli. "Capital BlueCross has generously given of its resources as an employer, health care provider and community supporter. Whatever the need, this company has been there for the people of the Lehigh Valley. And now a new chapter opens, with a beautiful retail site to serve the community it has embraced for nearly 75 years even better."

Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to residents in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple for its customers and members through all the stages of life by offering nationally acclaimed customer service and a full range of innovative benefit programs for groups and individuals at competitive prices.

By establishing a culture of caring, Capital BlueCross constantly strives to do more in order to deliver more for the men, women and children who depend on the company for their health insurance. The company continues to evolve in order to meet the individual needs of its customers, most notably by entering the retail market and building its first store in the Lehigh Valley called Capital Blue.

Capital BlueCross has been providing medical value to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years and employs over 1,800 people in the region. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

More information about Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries can be found by going to www.capbluecross.com.

SOURCE Capital BlueCross