Anthem Completes Acquisition of America’s 1st Choice
February 15 2018 - 10:42AM
Business Wire
Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) announced today the completion of its
acquisition of America’s 1st Choice, a privately‐held, for‐profit
Medicare Advantage organization that offers HMO products, including
Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNP) and Dual-Eligible Special Needs
Plans, under its Freedom Health and Optimum brands in Florida. The
company also operates America’s 1st Choice of South Carolina.
“America’s 1st Choice shares Anthem’s ambition to make a
difference in health care for Medicare Advantage consumers as well
as for those who have special health needs,” said Gail K.
Boudreaux, President and Chief Executive Officer, Anthem. “We know
that these individuals want high quality plans with support
services to help them lead healthier, full lives. America’s 1st
Choice has become one of the leading Medicare Advantage
organizations in Florida by offering a well-regarded
provider-focused health care model that has resulted in strong
growth among Medicare Advantage and highly complex populations with
special needs. We look forward to working with our America’s 1st
Choice colleagues and are very proud that Anthem will now be the
only publicly traded company to offer five 5-star plans as part of
its portfolio.”
Since its founding in 2008, America’s 1st Choice has generated
significant membership growth by developing effective engagement
programs and building strong provider relationships in the Florida
market. America’s 1st Choice currently serves approximately 130,000
Medicare consumers in 25 counties in Florida and three counties in
South Carolina. America’s 1st Choice will operate as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Anthem, and its associates will join Anthem’s
Government Business Division.
“We are excited to be joining Anthem because of the shared
commitment to making health care more accessible and affordable to
those who need it most,” said Rupesh Shah, CEO of America’s 1st
Choice. “As part of Anthem, we are positioned to help create the
health care system of the future.”
With the addition of America’s 1st Choice, Anthem’s affiliated
Medicare and Medicaid plans now serve more than 780,000 consumers
in Florida. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed,
and the transaction is expected to be slightly accretive to
earnings in 2018.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is working to transform health care with trusted and
caring solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality
products and services that give their members access to the care
they need. With over 73 million people served by its affiliated
companies, including more than 40 million within its family of
health plans, Anthem is one of the nation’s leading health benefits
companies. For more information about Anthem’s family of companies,
please visit www.antheminc.com/companies
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Anthem Contacts:Investor RelationsWill Feest,
317-488-6057William.feest@anthem.comorMediaEric
Lail, 202-508-7879Eric.lail@anthem.com
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