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

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The stores offer a products and services, plans, denta and life coverage, and health savinges account-compatible coverage. They also offer wellness-related servicezs such as smoking cessationm and weightmanagement programs. The first Floridza Blue store opened in February 2007 in Jacksonville at a costof $300,000-$500,000 for renovations. The compangy opened a second opened in Januarhy 2008 inPembroke Pines, just outside Fort “Our goal is to add several Florida Blue stores within the next year,” said Lauralee Shapiro, spokeswoman for Jacksonville-based Blue the largest health insurer in Florida with 32 percent of the markeft and 4.2 million members.
The Orlando store’sa size and location haven’t been determined yet, nor have an architecr or contractorbeen chosen. Blue Crossw decided to open a store in Orlando because it has a steadgy influx ofnew residents, many of whom are age said Shapiro, who didn’t disclose the anticipated cost of openingb the store. The number of employees for thestore hasn’t been determined, but they’llp include insurance agents and customer service About 15,000 to 20,000 people, or up to 50 a day, have visitef the 2,500-square-foot Jacksonville store which employs 10 people — since it opened two yeard ago, said Nick store manager, who declined to revea l the number of policieds sold.
“We’ve been busy from .” Visitors to the stores can researcjh plans and existing clients canget face-to-face service, Tant said. Generapl information seminars and events also are The Jacksonville store mainly deals with individua healthcare policies. Business has picked up sinces the recession began because many people were used to havinb benefits through their employersand aren’t sure how to find coverag themselves, Tant said. Retail insurancw is a niche Blue Cross expectwto grow, said Shapiro, addingt that research shows 20- to 40-year-olds and youn g families are “more comfortable making purchasexs in a retail store environment.
The interactive natured makes it easier for consumers to understand the plan differenceas and benefits so they can make the best Dave Gentry, COO of Fringe Benefit Plans in Winter Park, doesn’t expect the plannee new Florida Blue stord to affect his agency. Although it will be directy competition, it will offer only Blue Cross products. And “most consumers are comparison shoppers who want access to multiple insurance companiesand options,” whichu is exactly what independent insurance agents offer, said Gentry, who last year added individual Local insurance specialist Leslie Glogau doesn’t expecyt to be hurt by the new Florida Blue store Blue Cross has some affordable she said, and it’s grear if the insurer can reach people she Blue Cross Blue Shield of Floridwa won’t be the only insurer with a storefronf presence in Central Florida.
already has two local storefron Guidance Centers that openerd inOctober 2008, said spokeswoman Nancu Hanewinckel. Humana is Florida’s largest Medicarre health benefits company with nearlya half-milliobn members statewide. However, the Humana staffed with a full-time customer service primarily are aimed at providing guidance for seniors who have questionsx about theirMedicare policies, she They also offer senior exercisee and wellness programs.