CareFirst’s new consumer-directed health (CDH) plans are designed to help our members take an active role in decisions about their health care coverage and spending. These high-deductible plans, combined with new tax-advantaged, employer-funded health savings accounts, are now available to large and small groups and to individuals. They give health consumers flexibility to seek care from any physician, specialist, hospital or lab without referrals from primary care physicians.

Our award-winning care management program, CareEssentials, helps members receive the most effective care available. CareEssentials provides information and tools that our customers can use to stay healthy. It also provides special assistance to those with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease. And, through our staff of specially trained nurses, CareEssentials helps members manage complex hospitalizations and serious illnesses such as cancer.

For our senior customers, CareFirst added two affordable prescription drug plans to our array of Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) offerings. Medi-CareFirst Rx offers Medicare beneficiaries access to the federal government’s new Medicare Part D program. While some have criticized the Part D program as overly complicated, CareFirst has developed easy-to-use information packets and a special Web site that simplifies the selection process.