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Private Medical Insurance News - Healthcare Payor IT and Technology

Monday, 24 October 2011 06:43

IPMI Magazine Travel Insurance, Private Medical and Health Insurance News LONDON, 24 October 2011. Online Solution Offered Through Alliance with eSSENTIAL Accessibility(TM) WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) is announcing an alliance with eSSENTIAL Accessibility(TM) to offer an online solution that assists individuals who have difficulty typing, moving a mouse or reading a web page. With the help of eSSENTIAL Accessibility, WellPoint is taking a major step to enable visitors with physical disabilities to access health plan and benefit information, including an online doctor finder tool as well as claims details and wellness materials.

The launch is part of a Disability Community Involvement Initiative created by eSSENTIAL Accessibility in partnership with leading advocacy groups for the disabled such as The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and March of Dimes of Canada. eSSENTIAL Accessibility is leading this initiative to bridge the digital divide for those with physical disabilities by bringing WellPoint and other global organizations together to connect with and empower people with disabilities in a meaningful way. Using eSSENTIAL Accessibility's online solution, WellPoint is making assistive technology available for free, extending online access to important health plan information and services for more consumers.

Website visitors simply click on an icon to download keyboard and mouse replacement solutions for free, including a webcam-based hands-free movement tracking system, a page reader, predictive typing and other customizable options. The online tools can be used on a standard PC by people who have dexterity challenges or reading difficulties arising from a variety of conditions, including stroke, paralysis, arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, dyslexia and other issues.

To see the eSSENTIAL Accessibility online solution in action,visitwww.wellpoint.com.

"We are proud to offer this assistive technology to help disabled individuals," said Lori Beer, executive vice president of WellPoint's Enterprise Business Services division, and co-chair of ABLE, the company's resource group for associates with disabilities. "With this online solution, our health plan tools and services are more readily accessible to all consumers. This is one important way we are working to fulfill our mission to improve the lives of the people we serve and the health of our communities."

According to Linda Jimenez, chief diversity officer and vice president - diversity & inclusion for WellPoint, "We have taken an exciting step forward to help improve access to health plan information for the disabled community. WellPoint is committed to inclusive treatment of people with disabilities; the company has received multiple awards for this commitment, as well as for our business and supplier growth strategies. Most notably, Careers and the disABLED magazine named WellPoint as a Top 50 Employer for the past five years. Last year, the company became a founding partner of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN) Supplier Diversity Program."

WellPoint is ranked number 36 on the 2011 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity®list.