Anthem Blue Cross Benefits

Anthem and your employer need to hear from you. Make your voice heard online and contact your human resources representative. Below is a template letter to email directed to Anthem. How to submit: 

• Email the completed letter to Insurance@hh-bc.com for us to submit as a batch of letters (increases impact).
• Or email the letter directly to Anthem using the contacts below.

To: Brian.Ternan [at] anthem.com

CC: Craig.Samitt [at] anthem.com

Brian Ternan

President, Commercial Operations

Anthem, Inc

21555 Oxnard Street

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

DELIVERED VIA EMAIL

As an employer based in California, we are writing to express concern about the announced rate drop that has just come to our attention for breast pumps. Our company has [number of employees] employees across [number of states] states and is headquartered in [City]. [Describe the relationship you have with Anthem Blue Cross. Examples: Anthem Blue Cross manages our self-insured lives; Anthem Blue Cross is the PPO plan that we offer alongside an HMO Plan, etc.]

We have spent the last several years putting programs in place to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce. Our corporate lactation support is one of our most coveted programs for new and expecting parents. [Describe the program. Examples: We offer rooms that are designed to give pumping mothers; classes to support not just mothers, but also fathers; and access to lactation support once the baby is born.]. Almost all of our employees take advantage of the pump benefit and typically acquire the pump before the baby is even born. Our employees expect quality pumps that will support them for at least a year so that they can return to work.

Of all the items that drive up health care costs, it seems unthinkable that cheaper breast pumps will return any meaningful savings to the premiums that we pay. Instead, this decision by Anthem Blue Cross has the potential to undermine the advances we have made in our lactation programs.

We respectfully request that you take our perspective into account and reconsider this rate decrease for electric breast pumps.

Thank you,

CC: Craig Samitt, MD, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical/Clinical Officer