Anticipating a flood of new business — and competition — in 2014 when the federal health law goes into full effect, some health insurers have begun to open brick-and-mortar retail stores in an effort to strengthen their brand and reach out to customers.
The nation's largest health insurer, UnitedHealth, has opened eight such stores across the United States, including a 16,000-square-foot store in Queens, N.Y., which sees 3,200 customers per month, according to a report from Bloomberg News. Highmark, based in Pittsburgh, operates nine stores, and Florida's Blue Cross Blue Shield has 11 retail locations.
Similar to Apple's Genius Bars in its retail stores, some of the insurers host help desks to advise people on products and how to manage their current plans. Visitors can also check their blood pressure and vitals at medical stations in the store or sometimes at attached medical clinics, according to the report. Many stores also offer wellness incentives in the form of premium discounts for attending health programs at retail locations.
Experts said the stores may help to brand the companies, which will be increasingly important when as many as 85 million customers enroll in state health insurance exchanges to shop for their health plans.
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The nation's largest health insurer, UnitedHealth, has opened eight such stores across the United States, including a 16,000-square-foot store in Queens, N.Y., which sees 3,200 customers per month, according to a report from Bloomberg News. Highmark, based in Pittsburgh, operates nine stores, and Florida's Blue Cross Blue Shield has 11 retail locations.
Similar to Apple's Genius Bars in its retail stores, some of the insurers host help desks to advise people on products and how to manage their current plans. Visitors can also check their blood pressure and vitals at medical stations in the store or sometimes at attached medical clinics, according to the report. Many stores also offer wellness incentives in the form of premium discounts for attending health programs at retail locations.
Experts said the stores may help to brand the companies, which will be increasingly important when as many as 85 million customers enroll in state health insurance exchanges to shop for their health plans.
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