The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce has created a new insurance concierge service, MemberCare on Call, to help guide members through the maze of researching and managing their employees’ health insurance. Based on member recommendations and feedback, top Columbia based benefit insurance agents will be on call at the chamber Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm to help members analyze their health care plan designs and associated costs.

With the uncertain state of the economy, businesses are trying to cut costs wherever possible, and health insurance is a top expense. “We feel now is the time to provide our members with the resources and industry expertise to effectively navigate through the difficult challenges of balancing employee benefits with cost,” said Columbia Chamber president and CEO Ike McLeese, “Furthermore, MemberCare on Call will allow us to proactively communicate and clarify any health care business–impacting legislative changes affecting our members.”

The Columbia Chamber along with several other South Carolina based chambers conducted an evaluation of top insurance carriers in the state in 2008 that subsequently resulted in BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina (Blue- Cross) being selected to partner with the Chamber and provide unique member– only insurance benefits and plan designs.

In October 2008, BlueCross developed a new group of plans called True BlueSM Value Plans as premium cost containment solutions for members who needed to aggressively manage their health care outlay. Members can save up to 30 percent as compared to actual rate quotes of Business True BlueSM choice plans available to members prior to October 2008.

In January, the Chamber announced an individual insurance portfolio of plans specifically designed to offer even the smallest member an individual insurance option that mirrors insurance offered previously only available as a company “group” insurance plan. “In fact,” according to Lisa Hollingsworth, regional manager with BlueCross, “we’re reaching out to those people who, quite possibly, may have never had the opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage.”

MemberCare was developed to help Chamber businesses uncover appropriate, value–driven insurance options. Agent representatives are local Columbia agents who have extensive knowledge of the health care solutions available and have earned the reputation of providing expert advice. They understand that every member company is different and will take the time to find the right health care solution for each member. For more information, contact Courtney Herring at 733.1148 or cherring @columbiachamber. com.

The mission of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is to help create and promote an environment where businesses can flourish. Through an integrated series of programs and services, the Chamber provides tangible benefits to more than 2,000 members that will increase its ability to grow and prosper.