INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The nation’s second-largest health insurer has changed its corporate name to Anthem from Wellpoint to reflect a label familiar to consumers shopping for coverage.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer sells insurance in several states under the Anthem brand, which was the company’s corporate name before it bought WellPoint Health Networks a decade ago. It sells no plans under the WellPoint name.
Anthem Inc. is one of the biggest players on the health care overhaul’s public insurance exchanges. These exchanges are pushing insurers to sell more coverage directly to consumers instead of through employers.
CEO Joseph Swedish has said the insurer must call itself by the name customers know best.
Company leaders announced the change in August.
The Indianapolis insurer’s stock began trading Wednesday under the ticker symbol ANTM.