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CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Selects Benefitfocus To Expand Web-based Capabilities

“Model Office” Technology to Provide Enhanced Flexibility for Carrier

OWINGS MILLS, Md. & CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Benefitfocus today announced that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), the Mid-Atlantic’s largest healthcare insurer with 3.3 million members, has selected Benefitfocus to provide a comprehensive Web offering for its consumer, employer and broker constituents. The relationship with Benefitfocus is designed to substantially expand CareFirst’s Web-based capabilities while enhancing efficiency for all parties and adding flexibility for the marketplace.

“Broadening and enhancing our technology capabilities is essential to maintaining CareFirst’s strong position throughout our service area,” announced Shekar Subramaniam, CareFirst associate vice president, Broker Sales. “Having a comprehensive Web presence for all of our markets will help us further improve our ability to serve our employer groups, members, consumers and brokers. We are looking forward to working with Benefitfocus on this important effort.”

CareFirst has already worked with Benefitfocus to implement Benefitfocus eEnrollment™ for its small employer groups. The Benefitfocus eEnrollment application, privately labeled as CareFirst Connect, provides access to all enrollment eligibility data 24-hours a day via the Web and mobile devices for all their key audiences.

Building upon this foundation, Benefitfocus is working with CareFirst to implement other components of Benefitfocus suite of Enterprise products. The products CareFirst will launch include Benefitfocus eBilling™, Benefitfocus eSales™, Benefitfocus Video as a Service™, Benefitfocus eExchange™ and Benefitfocus eDirect™.

Collectively, these technologies are designed to create a seamless front-end which incorporates the use of High Definition video content to help explain healthcare while contributing to cost reductions and process streamlining.

“It is a real honor to be chosen to provide a full spectrum of technology to CareFirst and their customers. This selection of our technology is a testament to our customer service and ability to rapidly deliver large complex implementations,” said Shawn Jenkins, Benefitfocus president and CEO. “Providing a comprehensive front-end for the many CareFirst constituents, including CareFirst employees, the “Model Office” technology is designed to ensure that a single data view is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. This model will promote increased visibility, tremendous flexibility and a great platform to build upon for the future.”

The Benefitfocus technology suite is delivered via Software as a Service technology. All of the transactions and content delivery comes from the Benefitfocus Communication Platform which has gained remarkable market penetration over the last eight years. More than 291,737 employer groups currently access Benefitfocus technology and that number is growing rapidly. Economies of scale combined with Benefitfocus’ sizeable and timely investment in new media content delivery provides CareFirst with a market-leading healthcare and benefits platform for its brokers, employers, members and consumers.

Electronic enrollment technology, privately labeled CareFirst Connect, is already in production and additional capabilities of the platform will be enabled over the next several quarters throughout 2009.

About CareFirst

In its 71st year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health care organization which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.3 million individuals and groups in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of health care throughout its market areas.

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare benefits software provider serving 291,737 employers, 410 insurance carriers and 52 million consumers. Our technology solutions reduce costs, expand market share, manage risk and improve consumer satisfaction. Benefitfocus gives a competitive edge to carriers, employers and brokers as they help consumers manage complex decisions in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Benefitfocus can be reached at 843-849-7476 or at www.benefitfocus.com.