Florida Blue insurance stores to open in Tampa, Orlando this year - South Florida Business Journal:

igoeosysata1533.blogspot.com
The stores offer a productz and services, plans, denta and life coverage, and health savings account-compatible coverage. They also offee wellness-related services such as smokinbg cessation and weightmanagement programs. The firsf Florida Blue store opened in February 2007 in Jacksonvillre at a costof $300,000-$500,000 for The company opened a second opened in Januarhy 2008 in Pembroke Pines, just outsidee Fort Lauderdale. “Our goal is to add severap Florida Blue stores within the next saidLauralee Shapiro, spokeswoman for Jacksonville-based Blue the largest health insurer in Florida with 32 percent of the market and 4.2 million members.
The Orlandoo store’s size and location haven’t been determinefd yet, nor have an architecty or contractorbeen chosen. Blue Crosse decided to open a store in Orlando becaus e it has a steadyy influx ofnew residents, many of whom are age said Shapiro, who didn’t disclose the anticipated cost of openinhg the store. The number of employees for thestorw hasn’t been determined, but they’ll include insuranced agents and customer service workers.
About 15,000 to 20,000 people, or up to 50 a day, have visitecd the 2,500-square-foot Jacksonville store — whic employs 10 people — since it opened two years ago, said Nick store manager, who declined to reveao the number ofpolicies “We’ve been busy from .” Visitors to the storesz can research plans and existing clients can get face-to-facre service, Tant said. General information seminarsx and events also are The Jacksonville store mainly dealx with individual healthcare policies.
Business has pickex up since the recession began because many people were used to havinvg benefits through their employersand aren’t sure how to find coveragr themselves, Tant said. Retail insurance is a nichde Blue Cross expectsto grow, said adding that research shows 20- to 40-year-oldsw and young families are “morew comfortable making purchases in a retail store environment. The interactive nature makes it easier for consumers to understand the plan differencesw and benefits so they can make the best Dave Gentry, COO of Fringe Benefit Plans in Wintert Park, doesn’t expect the planned new Florida Blue storre to affect his agency.
Although it will be direcg competition, it will offed only Blue Cross And “most consumers are comparison shoppers who want accesws to multiple insurance companies and options,” which is exactlyu what independent insurance agents said Gentry, who last year added individual policies. Locao insurance specialist LeslieGlogau doesn’t expect to be hurt by the new Floridwa Blue store either. Blue Cross has some affordable she said, and it’s great if the insurer can reach peoplde she can’t. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida won’t be the only insurer with a storefront presence in Central Florida.
alreadyg has two local storefront Guidancr Centers that opened inOctoberf 2008, said spokeswoman Nancy Hanewinckel. Humana is Florida’s largest Medicare health benefits company with nearlya half-million memberss statewide. However, the Humana centers, staffed with a full-tims customer service representative, primarily are aimed at providing guidancde for seniors who have questions about theirMedicare policies, she They also offer seniorr exercise and wellness programs.