(March 29 – 09:45 ET) – BCE Emergis Inc. and Clarica Life Insurance Co. are teaming up to create an integrated health and dental claims exchange that will offer complete claims-processing of benefits over the web.

Health insurance companies will provide their group-plan customers with extensive web-based claims capabilities. Individual plan members will be able to easily access and complete forms electronically, securely submit the completed claims forms, receive explanation of benefits, and confirm payment to their personal bank account.

As initial founding partner, Clarica will invest in the exchange and, for an initial term of five years, use it for all of its health and dental claims. Clarica will have an active role in the continued development of the exchange.

BCE Emergis has designed and will develop, build and operate and own the web-enabled systems. The first phase of the e-health claims exchange will go online by the end of May. The exchange is expected to become fully functional at the end of 2002 for all health insurance companies involved.
-IE Staff