All Aboard! New IBC 'Medicaravan' Brings Medicare Information to Your Neighborhood

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Sep 07, 2011, 05:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Independence Blue Cross (IBC) introduced the "Medicaravan," a mobile information booth staffed with trained representatives who can provide on-the-spot health insurance information to IBC Medicare members and other Medicare beneficiaries. The handicap-accessible van debuts today at the 2011 Philadelphia Senior Games kick-off event, and will be featured at a number of other local community events throughout the year.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for our members and prospective members to get the information they need about their health plans, which is why we've introduced the Medicaravan where people can speak directly with a Medicare expert at IBC," said Roger van Baaren, Director, Medicare Marketing & Product Management for Independence Blue Cross. "Medicare is complex and many people prefer to ask their questions face-to-face with someone who is knowledgeable about Medicare and can help them find the best plan to fit their health care needs. We think our Medicare members and others across the region will appreciate the convenience of the Medicaravan."

The van will appear today at the Philadelphia County Senior Games, which IBC has cosponsored since they began in the late 1980s. This year's kick-off runs from noon to 6 p.m. at the Center in the Park, a community center at 5818 Germantown Ave focused on the needs of older adults. The van will also appear at a health fair tomorrow at the Bristol Township Senior Center in Bristol, PA from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

IBC also encourages members and prospective members to attend one of more than 150 meetings it will host during open enrollment. To learn more, sign up for a meeting, or schedule a home visit from an IBC representative, visit www.ibxmedicare.com.

The IBC Medicaravan is similar to the IBC Wellness Van which has been successfully used for years to visit customer sites, health fairs, and others venues to provide health screenings or health information for its commercial insurance members.

About IBC

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.1 million people. For more than 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Independence Blue Cross is available at www.ibx.com.

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross