Paula Sunshine
As SVP and Chief Marketing Executive at Independence Blue Cross, Paula Sunshine is accountable for the Individual Under-65 market segment. In this capacity, she is directly responsible for developing and executing all direct-to-consumer marketing and sales capabilities. In addition, Ms. Sunshine is accountable for insuring the delivery of market-competitive products and pricing as well as operational readiness for the Consumer market.

What Is a Deductible, and How Does It Affect What You Pay?

A physician reviews a document with a man
Health insurance seems to speak its own language, so we’re here to translate a term you might hear when you’re shopping for a plan: deductibles. While it may not be the juiciest topic to read about, it’s important to understand deductibles since amounts can vary greatly from plan to plan. And those slight differences can have a major impact on your bottom line....
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The Total Cost of Health Insurance: It’s More Than Just Your Premium

Confident African American mom talks with her daughter's pediatrician. Her elementary age daughter is sitting in a wheelchair.
Choosing a health insurance plan is an important decision. Like with any big purchase, you’ll probably compare how much you’ll pay and what you’ll get in return. But when you’re shopping for a health plan, there’s more to determining your total costs than just the premium, which is the payment you make to your health insurance company to keep your coverage active....
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In-Network vs Out-of-Network: What Does It Mean?

A lot of things can happen to put you in the market for a new doctor. Maybe you’ve moved to a new town and need to find a pediatrician for your kids’ well-visits. Or your primary care physician (PCP) recommends you follow-up with a specialist. Or you’ve turned 50 and are due to get your first colonoscopy....
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Enroll Now for an Affordable 2019 Health Insurance Plan

Woman and man on computer
Open Enrollment for 2019 individual and family health insurance plans starts on November 1, 2018, and ends December 15, 2018. Beginning November 1, you can apply for a new health insurance plan, change your health plan type, or make updates to your existing health plan, such as adding dependents. Any new plans or changes you make by December 15 will go into effect on January 1,...
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Family Health Insurance: Taking Care of Those Who Depend on You

Family of 4
You would probably go to great lengths to protect your family, and enrolling in family health insurance is one of the most important ways to do just that. Here are five good reasons to keep your family covered:

1. Health insurance helps keep your family healthy

Health care isn’t just about taking care of illnesses and injuries when they arise....
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HMO vs. PPO: A Quick Guide

Woman and man considering health plan choices
Consider the differences between HMO and PPO health plans when choosing your health coverage. There are many different types health plans out there, but HMO and PPO health plans remain among the most common. Let’s break down how these plans differ.

HMO Health Insurance Plans

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization....
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Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explained

You found a doctor, made an appointment, received care, and picked up your prescriptions. A few weeks later, you get a letter or an email from Independence with a document that says, in all capital letters, “THIS IS NOT A BILL.” So if it’s not a bill, what is it?

Meet your EOB

Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — also called a Plan Activity Statement — breaks down the exact costs every time you receive care....
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How Long Can You Stay on Your Parent’s Health Insurance?

Can you stay on your parents’ health insurance if you’re in college? How about if you move out…or get married? We answer these questions and more.
One of the most helpful innovations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the provision that allows dependents to remain on a parent or guardian’s health insurance plan until they turn 26. This helps young adults maintain continuous health coverage through the often unpredictable years after high school. But can you stay on your parent’s health plan if you’re in college?...
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