PITTSBURGH, Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Health Services announced today that it is making its MyBenefits defined contribution health insurance platform available to more businesses in more locations by forming a long-term strategic partnership with Seattle-based Array Health.

"Two years ago, we selected Array Health as our private exchange vendor because of its extensive experience in establishing and maintaining this kind of platform," said Steven Nelson, senior vice president of strategy, product and marketing at Highmark Health Services. "It has been a wonderful relationship with results that exceeded our expectations. More than 14 percent of the groups choosing our defined contribution approach are new clients to Highmark Health Services, and we nearly doubled the number of supplemental products sold to existing customers. We know that to make this platform even better in the years ahead, the time is right for Highmark Health Services to enter into a more lasting partnership with Array Health."

Highmark Health Services' long-term agreement with Array Health extends the relationship through 2015. It also includes an investment in Array Health by Highmark Health Services. 

MyBenefits started in 2011 as a pilot program that quickly gained momentum throughout 2012 and 2013 with small and mid-sized businesses (under 100 employees) seeking to manage their group health coverage costs, while providing their employees with more choices. Due to its success, Highmark Health Services is making it available to large group businesses.

Additionally, MyBenefits will be offered in West Virginia and Delaware as of Jan. 1, 2014.

Highmark Health Services was among the first health insurers in the country – and the first health plan in Pennsylvania – to offer the defined contribution platform, which benefits employers and employees. At a time of rapidly increasing health care costs, MyBenefits gives employers more cost certainty by providing their employees with a fixed-dollar allowance, while providing employees with more choice to select from a variety of health plans and supplemental products that best fit their needs and budgets.

Highmark Health Services also offers the MyRetireeBenefits platform for large group businesses in Pennsylvania. It provides an alternative to help employers and unions manage retiree medical spending, while giving their Medicare-eligible retirees the benefit of choice and the security of Highmark Health Services' coverage and service.

In choosing Array Health, Highmark Health Services partnered with an industry leader that has deep, practical experience developing the defined contribution platform. The Array Health platform includes a Product Marketplace that has allowed Highmark Health Services to offer a wide variety of health plan designs and supplemental products, including dental, vision and critical illness and accident options.

"Our vision has always been to humanize the process of buying health insurance," said Array Health CEO Jonathan Rickert. "We're pleased we've been able to offer Highmark Health Services a flexible platform that makes it easy for employees to compare, choose and enroll in plans that meet their specific needs."

About Array Health
Array Health is a leading provider of private insurance exchange technology. Its cloud-based software platform enables health plans of any size to power their own branded online exchanges – a strategic channel that helps them compete and thrive in the post health-reform world. With Array's state-of-the-art member marketplace and support for defined contributions, insurers win and retain business by giving employers a way to control costs and members a better way to buy benefits. A pioneer in this area, Array has enabled major insurers to successfully sell health and ancillary products since 2006. It has solved some of the industry's toughest data integration challenges to ensure that it provides not just a dynamic sales platform, but also a fully functional exchange that works seamlessly with existing insurer systems. For more information, visit www.arrayhealth.com.

About Highmark Health Services
Highmark Health Services is among the largest health insurers in the United States and the fourth-largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated company. Highmark Health Services operates health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia that serve 5.3 million members. Its diversified health businesses serve group customer and individual health needs across the United States through dental insurance, vision care and other related health businesses. Highmark Health Services is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.

SOURCE Array Health