Independence Blue Cross (Independence) is excited to announce the addition of the Care Cost Estimator (CCE) to our consumer transparency tools. The new online CCE tool will help educate members about covered services, treatment options, and anticipated out-of-pocket costs as they apply to their specific health plan. The CCE tool is available at www.ibxpress.com beginning on September 12, 2014, for PPO members who have migrated to our new operating platform.

ibc_logoFor customers who have not yet migrated, the CCE tool will become available to PPO members on your renewal date, in conjunction with the migration. To access the CCE tool, members must log in to their account at www.ibxpress.com, where they can link to the tool directly from their homepage.

New CCE tool helps members be more informed consumers The CCE tool helps members better understand their share of health care costs by providing cost estimates for more than 1,300 in-network inpatient, outpatient, laboratory, and diagnostic procedures, and even doctor office visits. The tool leverages the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association claims database to estimate cost ranges, taking into consideration a member’s current deductible balance and copayment amounts, and, if applicable, coinsurance. Based on their search parameters, such as service type and location, members receive a list of network providers matching their criteria with a range of estimated procedure costs for covered services. Members can compare these estimated costs to help them make more informed decisions about how they spend their health care dollars.

If you have any further questions, about this or any other IBC related matter, do not hesitate to contact your Total Benefit Solutions, Inc account manager today at (215)355-2121.