WALLINGFORD–Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have announced a new benefit for employees.
Associates who work at the insurance companies nationwide will now have the opportunity to earn a college degree without having to take on any debt.
The program will be offered to more than 1,400 employees in the state, in addition to all those who work at the company nationwide. The only requirements are that employees work at least 20 hours a week–so part-time employees are eligible as well–and have been employed by the company for at least six months.
The insurance company will partner with College For America, a fully-accredited online institution started by Southern New Hampshire University, and tuition will be paid for by Anthem’s Education Assistance benefit.
“Anthem is committed to offering its associates a robust benefits package that goes beyond salary and health benefits,” said Jill R. Hummel, Anthem’s president. “Our partnership with College for America has proven successful for our parent company associates who participated in the pilot program in New Hampshire and we want to build on that success by providing opportunities for education, development and career advancement to all our associates.”
College For America is a new venture that plans to partner with employers to offer competency-based, online curriculum engineered to help associates get college degrees while working.
“This is a tremendous win-win for Anthem and its associates. As an employer, Anthem is building talent and the skills needed for promotion in its workforce while associates earn an accredited degree that will help them get ahead in their life and career without taking on debt,” said Paul LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University. “SNHU’s partnership with Anthem will educate thousands of associates and is a model for aligning employer demand with the kind of competency-based, workforce-applicable higher education we have pioneered at College for America.”
