August 16, 2001
For Release: Upon Receipt
HIP Health Plan of New York
Brings Power of the Internet to Small Business
New York, N.Y. August 16th – HIP Health Plan of New York today announced the launch of HIPdirect, an innovative new program that allows small businesses to purchase group health coverage through hipusa.com, HIP’s newly redesigned and expanded Web site. By leveraging the power and efficiency of the Internet, HIP’s purpose is to help small businesses save time, money, and effort when setting up health plans for their employees.
HIPdirect pulls together two of HIP’s traditional strengths: a commitment to providing high quality coverage at reasonable rates, and industry-leading innovation in the use of information technology. InformationWeek has listed HIP among the nation’s leading technology trendsetters.
HIPdirect gives business people the convenient, direct power to select health plans for their employees from any Internet connected PC without going through a third party. Potential customers log onto hipusa.com, and are automatically stepped through the interactive process of creating a group plan. The employer then provides the names of potential group members, along with other information necessary to set up the plan.
Once the plan has been initiated, hipusa.com takes over. Plan members identified by the employer receive an email message that contains a link to a special, secure area on the Web site. From here, new plan members can enroll directly. The members provide information needed for enrollment in the plan by filling out a simple form. They can also read a detailed description of the plan, and find out about its benefits and costs. Completed plan applications, along with initial payment, are forwarded directly to HIP’s underwriting staff.
HIPdirect is one more innovation on HIP’s newly redesigned and re-launched Web site, which serves as a virtual customer service center 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Member’s log on whenever it is convenient for them, with complete privacy and security assured.
"I am proud of HIP’s technology team and its accomplishments," said Anthony L. Watson, Chairman & CEO. "In a relatively short time HIP has emerged in the forefront of health care proficiency. The inclusion of HIPdirect to our Web site, hipusa.com, is further evidence that HIP will continue its leadership position."
HIP’s Web site provides a variety of interactions, including:
- finding a physician in HIP’s
growing network;
- changing a primary care physician;
- filling a prescription through
HIP’s online pharmacy service;
- reviewing claims and downloading
forms;
- learning about HIP’s alternative
medicine programs for acupuncture;
- examining HIP’s dental program
and participating dentists;
- updating an address;
- requesting a replacement for a
misplaced ID card;
- reading about HIP health tips and links
to similar sites, press releases, general information about HIP,
including its annual report and financial statement, the HIP
member newsletter; and,
- Contacting HIP by e-mail. The privacy of email communication between HIP and its members is ensured by the latest Web security and encryption technology.
HIP will continue adding interactive features to hipusa.com in the near future.
About HIP
HIP is a mixed model HMO. With almost 800,000 members, it is the largest HMO in the New York metropolitan area. In Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, HIP members obtain access to care in medical centers staffed by physicians formed in Medical Groups. In Manhattan, access to care in medical centers is provided through an alliance with physicians associated with Beth Israel, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt and Lenox Hill Hospitals. In the Bronx and Westchester County, access to care is provided through HIP’s alliance with physicians associated with Montefiore Medical Center. HIP also provides access to care through an independent wrap-around network of physicians in all its areas of operation. The network, which is growing, now has more than 15,000 physicians in 24,000 locations.
Contact: Ron Maiorana, Senior VP Public Affairs/Ivy Quijano, Public Affairs Associate
