Baptist Health has announced a significant expansion of its health-insurance business, introducing new insurance plans for the Medicare Advantage and individual markets.

For more than 20 years, Baptist Health quietly operated Bluegrass Family Health, covering nearly 80,000 members in Kentucky and parts of adjoining states in the traditional commercial market, offering insurance through employers. In May, Bluegrass Family Health announced that it was changing its name to Baptist Health Plan to better align with its parent company’s brand as well as its vision of healthier communities.

The transformation continues today as Baptist Health Plan announces that it will offer entirely new insurance products starting in January 2016:

·         Baptist Health Plan Advantage (HMO), a Medicare Advantage plan. For the first time, starting Oct. 15, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to enroll in this plan in select counties in Kentucky. This Medicare Advantage plan will be available to individuals who are eligible for Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). The plan offers preventive care, prescription drug coverage, routine vision, preventive dental and other benefits. It also offers access to Baptist Health’s new Care Advising programs, which provide personalized care resources and help people build strong relationships with their providers.

·         Baptist Health Plan Select, a new health plan for individuals and families. It’s designed for people who don’t qualify for Medicare and don’t receive coverage through their employer. This plan will be available for purchase on kynect, Kentucky’s online health insurance exchange, and offline as well. The exchange, or marketplace, was created by the federal Affordable Care Act.

In addition, Baptist Health Plan will continue to offer a variety of plans for employers. This includes existing Bluegrass Family Health group plans and a new “narrow network” plan that leverages the Baptist Health Community Care network.

All of the plans are outlined in detail on an all-new website being unveiled today, BaptistHealthPlan.com.

“We speak often of our commitment to improving the health of the communities we serve. By expanding our insurance options, better aligning them with our services, and shifting toward a more proactive approach, we are taking a big step forward in that effort,” said Steve Hanson, CEO of Baptist Health.

“Baptist Health has enjoyed an excellent reputation for quality healthcare,” said James Fritz, president of Baptist Health Plan. “In bringing our health system together with our health plan, we can offer a convenient and personalized experience to people in our communities.”

Baptist Health Plan Advantage will be offered in 33 Kentucky counties: Allen, Barren, Bourbon, Boyd, Butler, Calloway, Clark, Edmonson, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Graves, Greenup, Henderson, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marshall, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Oldham, Pulaski, Scott, Shelby, Simpson, Union, Warren, Whitley, and Woodford.

Baptist Health Plan Select will be offered in 29 Kentucky counties: Boyd, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Carter, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Greenup, Hardin, Hart, Henry, Hopkins, Jefferson, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Madison, McCracken, Meade, Mercer, Oldham, Rockcastle, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Webster, Whitley and Woodford.

Baptist Health Community Care is the name of Baptist Health’s population health management department. It launched in April of this year.

Population health is a relatively new approach to managing health, shifting the focus from illness to wellness. It is a critically important part of Baptist Health’s value-based care strategy, and supports Baptist Health in prioritizing prevention and wellness, along with diagnosis and treatment.

For patients, this means a more coordinated experience that focuses on helping them stay healthy—not just on treatment for when they are sick. For physicians and other clinicians, it means defining quality standards and holding each other accountable to evidence-based medicine. This commitment to low variation and less fragmentation can enhance quality and lower costs.