PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Blue Cross introduced IBX App at its 75th Anniversary kick-off celebration at the Blue Cross RiverRink. The smartphone app for the iPhone and Android offers enhanced tools and patient-centered features to help IBC's 3.1 million members access their health plan information whenever and wherever they need to.
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"We are 75 years strong and still changing the game. We recognize that connectivity to information is critical to transforming today's health care system," said Daniel J. Hilferty, Independence Blue Cross president and CEO, who introduced the app at the 75th anniversary event. "We redesigned our mobile app to meet our members' needs by making it easy for them to be connected even when they're on the go. With IBX App, our goal was to develop an app that offers our members an interactive experience that is second to none."
IBX App includes a vibrant new look and easier navigation. The new Medicine Cabinet feature, for example, provides the member with a complete inventory of currently prescribed drugs and past prescriptions. This feature also provides images of what each drug looks like—to help avoid any medicine mix ups. Even non-members will find the app useful because they can use the expanded Find a Doctor tool to locate urgent care clinics or pharmacies using GPS.
The mobile app and IBC's recent partnership with Relay to introduce IBX Wire – a mobile messaging service – stem from the creation of IBC's Consumer Digital Engagement Center of Excellence. This is a multi-organizational team that is dedicated to developing innovative mobile strategies and leveraging new technologies to help consumers make well-informed health care decisions and improve their connections with their physician to stay healthy and spend their health care dollars wisely.
Ken Russo, director of IBC's Consumer Digital Engagement Team, said, "We listened to our customers' requests and focused on ways to improve, streamline and simplify some of our existing and most popular online tools while building new capabilities to provide a more interactive customer experience."
Redesigned features of the IBX App:
- Notes and picture storing capabilities help members prepare for visits with their doctor
- Personal Health Record shows a member's key health information, such as visits, allergies, test results, and immunizations
- Expanded Find a Doctor tool locates urgent care clinics or pharmacies using Google Maps-powered search tool
- Doctor's Visit Assistant provides important information such as medications, visit history and copay information
- Detailed benefit plan information shows deductible and health spending account balances
- Year-end tax report easily tracks all out-of-pocket expenses
- Digital membership card shows member information and can be emailed
Members who already have access to the IBX App will need to download the newly revised app. For those members downloading the app for the first time, there's no additional registration required for those who have already registered with ibxpress.com. IBC members need only login with their username and password to access their health coverage 24/7 through IBX App. Anyone can download the app for free, although non-members will not have access to some member-specific tools.
About Independence Blue Cross
Proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2013, Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we have 3.1 million members nationwide. We are enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
