Anthem Blue Cross uses Google maps to find clinics

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is using Google Maps to help Connecticut customers find retail health clinics and walk-in centers for non-emergencies when their doctors are unavailable.

The insurer's program locates the clinics and walk-in centers in Anthem's network, and ads on Google, Yahoo! and Bing drive visitors to a website explaining when to use those centers.

The program is also intended to help save money. Anthem says that depending on the member's benefits, emergency room copays are between $75 and $100, compared with $20 to $30 for walk-in centers and retail health clinics.

Automated calls also educate members whose recent emergency room visits could have been avoidable.

WellPoint Inc. also has enlisted Google Maps for websites in several states.