WellPoint Earns Designation of ‘Best Place to Work’ for LGBT Equality

WellPoint, Inc. announced today that it received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. WellPoint joins the ranks of 366 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

The 2015 CEI rated 971 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. WellPoint’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

“WellPoint is very excited to have earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index. This is a testament to how much we value our LGBT associates and the perspectives they bring every day which helps us better understand the needs of our customers,” said Tracy Edmonds, chief diversity officer for WellPoint. “Closing health disparity gaps depends on our ability to know our customers, develop products and programs that meet their unique needs, and to serve them in a culturally competent way; we’re very proud of the collaboration of our associates who have been instrumental in helping shape business solutions that meet the health care needs of our LBGT customers.”

The company’s commitment to a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture is best showcased by their nine Associate Resource Groups among them – the Associate Network for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE). With more than 300 members across the country, ANGLE works actively within the company to create leadership development opportunities, promote role models and most notably team with company business divisions to offer their insights and personal experiences to help the company develop business solutions to better serve LGBT customers. ANGLE has also been instrumental in the development of programs to raise awareness and inclusion of the LGBT community creating an environment of support and respect among fellow associates and customers. For example, ANGLE helped develop and provide oversight for the company’s Safe Space Program; the group also provided input on the guidelines for facilitating the process of gender transition in the workplace as well as related training.

Additionally, through its nationally recognized Supplier Diversity program, WellPoint further demonstrates their commitment to doing business with vendors who reflect the diversity of the customers it serves including numerous LGBT-owned businesses.

"In order to achieve a perfect score, a company has to show a deep and serious commitment to treating their LGBT employees fairly and equally on the job,” said Chad Griffin, president of HRC. “We also look at whether a company is speaking out in the public square to advocate for LGBT equality here in this country and around the world. WellPoint not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values."

For more information on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

About WellPoint, Inc.

WellPoint 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 nearly 69 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more than 37 million enrolled in its family of health plans, WellPoint is one of the nation’s leading health benefits companies. WellPoint companies serve members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; and as the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensees for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In most of these service areas, WellPoint does business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). It also serves customers in other states through its Amerigroup, CareMore and UniCare subsidiaries. To find out more about WellPoint, go to wellpoint.com.

Contacts:

WellPoint, Inc.
Leslie Porras, 818-234-3368 (Media)
leslie.porras@wellpoint.com

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