(BPT) - By Maria Proulx, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire
Think about the last major purchase you made. Chances are, you did not simply choose the first option you saw. You compared prices, considered the value you would receive and decided which choice made the most sense for you.
kAmr9@@D:?8 962=E9 4@G6C286 56D6CG6D E96 D2>6 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am
kAmw62=E942C6 4@DED 2C6 2 4@?46C? 7@C >2?J 72>:=:6D] p44@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AC@E64E]4964<A@:?E]4@>^Ga^C_`^0009EEADi^HHH]<77]@C8^962=E9\4@DED^2>6C:42?D\492==6?86D\H:E9\962=E9\42C6\4@DED^000]*Ky`~?5=*ahE3)'F2(}95v=G3?|e*KAG+>+A*a&K};'7+(`92(IK)au_5vu;2v`=3?"e}%+=|;&K+>|a*>|J+s8I|vtH*>|d*;y9*%}9|s"b|;|e}K@K*>'9~;=9|;"c|vu9|%+;*>"b|vxb+;<c+s|H+vy;};*H}a&J*("_|v&`}%&_|s+=~s&a+;x`*a&H};q<+>}:+;9>+s4e4sAv~<*Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmzuuk^2m[ beT @7 &]$] 25F=ED D2J E96J 92G6 D<:AA65 @C A@DEA@?65 ?66565 962=E942C6 :? E96 A2DE J62C 3642FD6 @7 4@DE]k^Am
kAm}6H w2>AD9:C6 C6D:56?ED DA6?E 2? 2G6C286 @7 Sh[bb` A6C A6CD@? @? 962=E942C6 :? a_aa[ 7@C 2 DE2E6H:56 E@E2= @7 S`b]_a 3:==:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 x?DFC2?46 s6A2CE>6?EVD a_ad C6A@CE @? }w w62=E9r@DE H63D:E6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?9962=E94@DE]?9]8@G^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm}w962=E94@DE]?9]8@Gk^2m]k^Am
kAm%92E :D @?6 C62D@? ~A6? t?C@==>6?E 42==D 7@C >@C6 E92? 2 4@>A2C:D@? @7 >@?E9=J AC6>:F>D] xE :D 2 492?46 E@ 4@?D:56C E96 7F== A:4EFC6i H92E J@F H:== A2J 7@C 4@G6C286[ H92E J@F 4@F=5 A2J H96? J@F ?665 42C6[ H9:49 5@4E@CD 2?5 9@DA:E2=D 2C6 :?\?6EH@C<[ 9@H J@FC AC6D4C:AE:@?D 2C6 4@G6C65 2?5 H92E C6D@FC46D 42? 96=A J@F >2<6 :?7@C>65 564:D:@?D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am
kAmpD J@F 4@>A2C6 J@FC @AE:@?D[ 96C6 2C6 7:G6 E9:?8D E@ <66A :? >:?5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m`] z?@H E96 E6C>D E92E 27764E H92E J@F A2Jk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 >@?E9=J AC6>:F> >2J 36 E96 >@DE G:D:3=6 ?F>36C H96? 4@>A2C:?8 962=E9 A=2?D[ 3FE :E 5@6D ?@E E6== E96 H9@=6 DE@CJ]k^Am
kAmp A=2? H:E9 2 =@H6C AC6>:F> 42? =@@< 2EEC24E:G6 2E 7:CDE 8=2?46[ 3FE H92E >2EE6CD :D H92E J@F 4@F=5 DA6?5 @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 J62C] s65F4E:3=6D[ 4@A2JD[ 4@:?DFC2?46 2?5 E96 @FE\@7\A@4<6E >2I:>F> 42? 2== 27764E J@FC 4@DED H96? J@F 24EF2==J FD6 J@FC 36?67:ED]k^Am
kAmx?DE625 @7 2D<:?8 @?=J[ Q(92E H:== E9:D 4@DE >6 6249 >@?E9nQ 4@?D:56C 2D<:?8[ Q(92E 4@F=5 >J 962=E942C6 4@DE >6 @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 J62CnQk^Am
kAm%9:?< 23@FE E96 42C6 J@F 2?5 J@FC 72>:=J EJA:42==J FD6] s@ J@F C68F=2C=J D66 DA64:2=:DEDn %2<6 AC6D4C:AE:@? >65:42E:@?Dn tIA64E 2 AC@465FC6 @C @?8@:?8 E96C2AJn p A=2? H:E9 2 9:896C >@?E9=J AC6>:F> >2J D@>6E:>6D @776C =@H6C 4@DED H96? J@F C646:G6 42C6]k^Am
kAmp?5 C6>6>36Ci H96C6 J@F C646:G6 42C6 >2EE6CD[ E@@] &D:?8 :?\?6EH@C< AC@G:56CD 2?5 49@@D:?8 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 42C6 D6EE:?8 42? >2<6 2 >62?:?87F= 5:776C6?46 :? H92E J@F A2J]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ma] r964< E96 ?6EH@C< 367@C6 J@F 6?C@==k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm|@DE @7 FD H@F=5 ?@E DF3D4C:36 E@ 2 DEC62>:?8 D6CG:46 H:E9@FE 7:CDE 4964<:?8 H96E96C :E @776CD E96 D9@HD H6 H2?E E@ H2E49] %96 D2>6 2AAC@249 42? 96=A H96? 49@@D:?8 962=E942C6 4@G6C286]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 D6=64E:?8 2 A=2?[ 4@?7:C> H96E96C E96 5@4E@CD[ DA64:2=:DED[ 9@DA:E2=D 2?5 962=E9 DJDE6>D J@F AC676C A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E92E A=2?VD ?6EH@C<]k^Am
kAm%92E :D 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E :7 J@F 92G6 6DE23=:D965 C6=2E:@?D9:AD H:E9 962=E942C6 AC@G:56CD @C 6IA64E E@ ?665 DA64:2=EJ 42C6 :? E96 4@>:?8 J62C]k^Am
kAms@ ?@E 2DDF>6 2 AC@G:56C H9@ A2CE:4:A2E6D :? J@FC 4FCC6?E A=2? H:== 2FE@>2E:42==J A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 ?6H @?6] !C@G:56C ?6EH@C<D 42? 5:776C 3J A=2?[ 6G6? H96? A=2?D 2C6 @776C65 3J E96 D2>6 :?DFC6C] r964<:?8 367@C6 J@F 6?C@== 42? 96=A AC6G6?E 2? F?H6=4@>6 DFCAC:D6 H96? J@F ?665 42C6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mb] !FE J@FC AC6D4C:AE:@?D @? E96 D9@AA:?8 =:DEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx7 J@F C68F=2C=J E2<6 >65:42E:@?[ AC6D4C:AE:@? 4@G6C286 42? 92G6 2 D:8?:7:42?E :>A24E @? J@FC 962=E942C6 DA6?5:?8]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 6?C@==:?8[ >2<6 2 =:DE @7 E96 >65:42E:@?D J@F 4FCC6?E=J E2<6 2?5 4964< 9@H 6249 A=2? 4@G6CD E96>] {@@< 2E E96 A=2?VD 5CF8 =:DE[ @C 7@C>F=2CJ[ 2D H6== 2D :ED A92C>24J ?6EH@C< 2?5 2AA=:423=6 4@A2JD @C 4@:?DFC2?46]k^Am
kAm*@F >2J 2=D@ H2?E E@ 4964< H96E96C E96 A=2? @776CD @AE:@?D E92E 4@F=5 96=A =@H6C 4@DED[ DF49 2D 9@>6 56=:G6CJ @C =@H6C\4@DE 2=E6C?2E:G6D H96? 4=:?:42==J 2AAC@AC:2E6]k^Am
kAmtG6? :7 J@F 5@ ?@E E2<6 C68F=2C >65:42E:@?D E@52J[ F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 AC6D4C:AE:@? 36?67:E 42? 96=A J@F <?@H H92E E@ 6IA64E :7 E92E 492?86D 5FC:?8 E96 J62C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mc] $9@A 7@C E96 962=E942C6 J@F 24EF2==J FD6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96C6 :D ?@E @?6 962=E9 A=2? E92E :D C:89E 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] p >@C6 FD67F= BF6DE:@? :Di (9:49 A=2? 7:ED E96 H2J J@F 2?5 J@FC 72>:=J FD6 962=E942C6nk^Am
kAm$@>6@?6 H9@ C2C6=J G:D:ED E96 5@4E@C >2J 92G6 G6CJ 5:776C6?E AC:@C:E:6D 7C@> 2 A2C6?E H:E9 J@F?8 49:=5C6?[ D@>6@?6 >2?28:?8 2 49C@?:4 4@?5:E:@? @C 2 A6CD@? 6IA64E:?8 DFC86CJ :? E96 4@>:?8 J62C]k^Am
kAm#6G:6H E96 962=E942C6 J@F 92G6 FD65 C646?E=J 2?5 4@?D:56C H92E J@F >2J ?665 ?6IE J62C] %9:?< 23@FE AC:>2CJ 42C6 G:D:ED[ DA64:2=:DED[ 3692G:@C2= 962=E942C6[ @?8@:?8 E96C2A:6D[ AC6D4C:AE:@?D 2?5 2?J A=2??65 AC@465FC6D]k^Am
kAm%96? 4@?D:56C D@>6E9:?8 4@?DF>6CD 5@ ?@E 2=H2JD E9:?< 23@FE 5FC:?8 6?C@==>6?Ei H96C6 E96J C646:G6 E92E 42C6]k^Am
kAmu@C D@>6 C@FE:?6 @C ?@?\6>6C86?4J ?665D[ J@F >2J 92G6 D6G6C2= 2AAC@AC:2E6 @AE:@?D[ DF49 2D G:CEF2= 42C6[ 2 AC:>2CJ 42C6 @77:46[ 2? FC86?E 42C6 46?E6C @C 2?@E96C @FEA2E:6?E D6EE:?8] r@DED 42? G2CJ 56A6?5:?8 @? H96C6 D6CG:46D 2C6 AC@G:565]k^Am
kAm&?56CDE2?5:?8 E9@D6 49@:46D 2?5 FD:?8 2G2:=23=6 E@@=D E@ 4@>A2C6 E96> 367@C6 C646:G:?8 42C6 42? 96=A J@F 86E >@C6 G2=F6 7C@> J@FC 36?67:ED 2?5 A@E6?E:2==J =@H6C J@FC 962=E942C6 4@DED H:E9@FE D24C:7:4:?8 BF2=:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8md] s@ ?@E DE@A D9@AA:?8 27E6C ~A6? t?C@==>6?E 6?5Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr9@@D:?8 4@G6C286 :D @?=J E96 368:??:?8]k^Am
kAm(6 4@>A2C6 AC:46D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C 7@C 7=:89ED[ 9@E6=D[ 8C@46C:6D 2?5 4@F?E=6DD @E96C AFC492D6D] w62=E942C6 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E96 6I46AE:@?]k^Am
kAm|2?J 962=E9 A=2?D ?@H @776C 5:8:E2= E@@=D 2?5 DFAA@CE E92E 42? 96=A >6>36CD 7:?5 :?\?6EH@C< AC@G:56CD[ F?56CDE2?5 E96:C 36?67:ED[ 4@>A2C6 42C6 @AE:@?D 2?5 6DE:>2E6 4@DED 367@C6 2? 2AA@:?E>6?E @C AC@465FC6]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ p?E96> q=F6 rC@DD 2?5 q=F6 $9:6=5 @776CD E@@=D 2?5 C6D@FC46D 56D:8?65 E@ 96=A >6>36CD ?2G:82E6 E96:C 962=E942C6 2?5 >2<6 >@C6 :?7@C>65 564:D:@?D] %9C@F89 E96 $J5?6J w62=E9 2AA[ p?E96> >6>36CD 42? FD6 E96 u:?5 r2C6 762EFC6 E@ D62C49 7@C :?\?6EH@C< AC@G:56CD 2?5 4@>A2C6 6DE:>2E65 4@DED 7@C 46CE2:? D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAmr@?DF>6CD H9@ FD65 E96 u:?5 r2C6 5:8:E2= 762EFC6 D2G65 2? 2G6C286 @7 S`gd 2?5 6IA6C:6?465 2 ba]fT C65F4E:@? :? @FE\@7\?6EH@C< FD6]k^Am
kAm%92E :D :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 =@H6C:?8 E96 4@DE @7 42C6 :D ?@E @?=J 23@FE H92E 92AA6?D H96? J@F 49@@D6 2 962=E9 A=2?] xE :D 2=D@ 23@FE 92G:?8 FD67F= :?7@C>2E:@? H96? J@F >2<6 962=E942C6 564:D:@?D E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp BF:4< ~A6? t?C@==>6?E D9@AA:?8 =:DEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmq67@C6 J@F 49@@D6 2 A=2?[ D66 H96E96C J@F 42? 2?DH6C E96D6 BF6DE:@?Dik^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:m(92E 4@F=5 x DA6?5 @G6C E96 6?E:C6 J62C[ ?@E ;FDE @? >@?E9=J AC6>:F>Dnk^=:mk=:mpC6 E96 5@4E@CD[ DA64:2=:DED 2?5 9@DA:E2=D x H2?E E@ FD6 :?\?6EH@C<nk^=:mk=:mw@H 2C6 >J 4FCC6?E AC6D4C:AE:@?D 4@G6C65nk^=:mk=:m(92E 962=E942C6 ?665D 5@ x @C >J 72>:=J 6IA64E :? E96 4@>:?8 J62Cnk^=:mk=:m(92E C6D@FC46D 42? 96=A >6 F?56CDE2?5 2?5 FD6 >J 36?67:EDnk^=:mk=:mr2? x 4@>A2C6 6DE:>2E65 4@DED 2?5 42C6 @AE:@?D 367@C6 D4965F=:?8 46CE2:? D6CG:46Dnk^=:mk=:mx7 x ?665 C@FE:?6 @C ?@?\6>6C86?4J 42C6[ 5@ x F?56CDE2?5 E96 5:776C6?E 42C6 D6EE:?8D 2G2:=23=6 E@ >6nk^=:mk^F=m
kAm~A6? t?C@==>6?E 8:G6D J@F E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 49@@D6 4@G6C286] qFE 86EE:?8 E96 >@DE 7C@> E92E 4@G6C286 :D D@>6E9:?8 J@F 42? 5@ 2== J62C =@?8]k^Am
kAmqJ F?56CDE2?5:?8 J@FC 36?67:ED[ DE2J:?8 :?\?6EH@C< 2?5 FD:?8 2G2:=23=6 E@@=D E@ 4@>A2C6 J@FC @AE:@?D 367@C6 C646:G:?8 42C6[ J@F 42? >2<6 >@C6 :?7@C>65 962=E942C6 564:D:@?D 2?5 E2<6 2 >@C6 24E:G6 C@=6 :? >2?28:?8 H92E J@F DA6?5]k^Am
kAmp?E96> >6>36CD 92G6 2446DD E@ E@@=D 2?5 C6D@FC46D 56D:8?65 E@ >2<6 962=E942C6 D:>A=6C E@ ?2G:82E6 2?5 96=A E96> 7:?5 E96 C:89E 42C6[ 2E E96 C:89E A=246 2?5 2E E96 C:89E E:>6]k^Am
kAm%@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE p?E96> 4@G6C286 2?5 C6D@FC46D 2G2:=23=6 :? }6H w2>AD9:C6[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2?E96>]4@>^FA52E6^962=E942C6\:?\?6H\92>AD9:C6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm2?E96>]4@>^962=E942C6:??6H92>AD9:C6k^2m]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.