Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Extends Service Agreement with Benefitfocus for Three More Years

Benefitfocus continues to automate online benefits solutions for Wellmark

Charleston, S.C. – Feb. 24, 2009 – Benefitfocus®, the largest healthcare benefits software provider in the U.S., announced today that Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield renewed their service agreement for an additional three years. The companies began their relationship in 2003 with Wellmark’s adoption of Benefitfocus eEnrollment™. Today, over 80 percent of Wellmark’s large employer customers are using the automation tool online. The newly extended agreement expands the service offering through 2011, providing Wellmark the opportunity to meet customer demand while increasing adoption with large groups throughout South Dakota and Iowa.

eEnrollment replaces conventional paper-based enrollment by automating the enrollment process. The product offers tools for benefits management and administration including 24/7 access for employers and/or employees, a wide array of reporting options, coordination of benefits support, COBRA administration and secure messaging. As a core function, eEnrollment allows all forms of eligibility to be completely automated while ensuring seamless updates and appropriate changes for new hires, terminations and life events.

Throughout the years, Wellmark has been successfully using Benefitfocus eEnrollment, privately labeled as BluesEnroll, to reduce the amount of paper processing. Wellmark sales reps and brokers have embraced the tool to help achieve a high percentage of adoption of the technology by their employer groups and members. Embracing this tool as a key market differentiator, BluesEnroll has significantly reduced the processing time for enrollment transactions while ensuring accurate input of data and guaranteeing timely delivery of services.

“Having our technology selected by a new customer is a great sign that we are on the right track, but there is no higher compliment than to have an existing customer sign up for many more years,” said Shawn Jenkins, president and CEO of Benefitfocus. “It is proof that our technology and services add real value to our clients and the market. We are honored to serve Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and look forward to the years to come.”

About Wellmark: Wellmark, Inc. (www.wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than two million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Benefitfocus: Benefitfocus is the largest healthcare benefits software provider serving 294,071 employers, 410 insurance carriers, and 52 million consumers. Our technology solutions reduce costs, expand market share, manage risk and improve consumer satisfaction. Benefitfocus gives a competitive edge to carriers, employers and brokers as they help consumers manage complex decisions in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Benefitfocus can be reached at 843-849-7476 or at www.benefitfocus.com.