Highmark Retail Store to Celebrate Grand Opening

Health insurance store in Mechanicsburg to hold grand opening on March 21

CAMP HILL, Pa., March 12 /PRNewswire/ — Pennsylvania’s first pair of health insurance retail stores, Highmark Direct, are opening this month. The first store in central Pennsylvania will celebrate its grand opening at the Silver Spring Square Shopping Center at 6416 Carlisle Pike on Saturday, March 21.

During the grand opening, individuals, families and small business owners can meet with a representative for an assessment of their current health insurance and get answers to their health insurance questions. Current Highmark members can attend the grand opening to learn about the value-added benefits available to them such as free visits with a nutritionist and discounts to health clubs.

The Highmark Direct store will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will sell health insurance to individuals, seniors and small businesses. The store will also provide seminars and educational information about the value-added benefits that Highmark members have access to such as smoking cessation programs, weight-loss programs, consultations with nutritionists and more.

“We know that the responsibility for purchasing and understanding health insurance is falling more to individual consumers, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Kenneth R. Melani, M.D., president and CEO, Highmark Inc. “That’s why we’re opening our Highmark Direct health insurance retail stores in Pittsburgh and Mechanicsburg. We want to help individuals who may have to purchase health insurance on their own and small business owners looking for health plan options for themselves and their employees.”

Highmark opened a second Highmark Direct retail store in Pittsburgh last week.

When a consumer visits the Highmark Direct store, they can meet one-on-one with a Highmark direct sales associate to discuss health insurance options and apply for health insurance coverage. The store will feature self-service kiosks where customers can shop for health insurance plans on their own or research additional Highmark member benefits. The Highmark Direct store will also hold seminars on health insurance topics at a variety of times throughout the month.

At the March 21 grand opening, individuals and their families will enjoy a day of activities and health-related information. From noon to 2 p.m., families can play Nintendo Wii and get their photos taken with the mascot from the Harrisburg Senators, Grrrounder. A Highmark nutritionist will be in-store to discuss healthy eating habits. For more information about Highmark Direct, contact 717-302-7900.

About Highmark Blue Shield

As one of the state’s leading health insurers and with nearly 70 years of community involvement, Highmark Blue Shield helps members live longer, healthier lives by ensuring access to affordable, high quality health insurance and services. Highmark offers the widest range of products, access to all area hospitals and the most responsive customer service. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark’s positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. Employing more than 5,000 people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, Highmark provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information about Highmark Blue Shield, visit www.highmark.com.

SOURCE Highmark