Safeway Forms Strategic Alliances with Major Health Care Insurers for Medicare Part D

Safeway, a Fortune 50 company, has partnered with major health care insurers to provide customers with information and guidance on the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The alliance involves Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Health Net, and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. The strategic partnerships aim to help customers understand the new program and make informed decisions regarding their prescription drug coverage.

Key Takeaways:

• Safeway has partnered with four major health care insurers to provide customers with information on the Medicare Part D program.
• The alliance includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Health Net, and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc.
• Safeway will provide brochures and other literature at pharmacies and conduct co-sponsored educational outreach, including one-on-one consultations.
• Prescriptions can be filled at all Safeway pharmacies as well as any of the respective health care insurers' participating pharmacies.
• The partnerships are designed to better meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries, who can receive new benefits beginning January 1, 2006.
• Safeway operates 1,148 pharmacies in its stores across the United States, making its services accessible to a large number of customers.
• Due to the complexity of the new program, guidance from health care insurers is vital to ensure that beneficiaries understand the new coverage and are prepared to make an informed decision.
• Safeway's Senior Vice President of Pharmacy, David Fong, emphasized the importance of the partnerships in helping customers understand the new program.

Statistics:

• Safeway operates 1,148 pharmacies across the United States.
• Safeway has annual sales of $35.6 billion.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides health insurance coverage for more than 6.5 million people.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas serves more than 4 million members across 254 counties in Texas.
• Health Net has approximately 6.4 million individuals in 27 states and the District of Columbia through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs.
• PacifiCare Health Systems has nearly 3.3 million health plan members and approximately 11.3 million specialty plan members nationwide.

Sources:

• Safeway Inc.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Texas
• Health Net Inc.
• PacifiCare Health Systems
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• HCSC Insurance Services Company
• Health Care Service Corporation
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association