Anthem proposes name change to Elevance

Health insurer Anthem Inc. has announced its intention to change its name to Elevance Health Inc.

The new name “underscores the company’s commitment to elevating whole health and advancing health beyond healthcare,” the Indianapolis-based company said in a news release.

The name change has unanimous support from Anthem’s board of directors. Shareholders will consider it in a meeting scheduled for May 18.

If approved, the name change would take effect by the end of the second quarter 2022.

“Improving health means more than just treating what ails us. We must address whole health and the physical, behavioral, and social drivers that impact it,” Anthem President and CEO Gail Boudreaux said in the news release. “This need has driven our transformation from a health benefits organization to a lifetime, trusted health partner. Our commitment to always expect more from ourselves has led us to reimagine the way we operate and take a more holistic approach to health. As Elevance Health, we will continue to work toward a healthcare system that better serves the needs of our consumers, care providers, communities, partners, and associates.”

The company will not change the names of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans. Elevance Health will streamline other brands in the market to reduce complexities and improve consumer experiences, the news release said.

The change will not affect health plan member benefits, enrollment or identification cards, according to the company. Anthem serves more than 118 million consumers in almost 600 national employers, and more than 1.1 million health care providers.

The company began using the name Anthem Inc. in 2014. Previously it was known as WellPoint Inc., based on the 2004 merger of Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Anthem currently has more than 90,000 employees. The name change will not include any organizational restructuring or leadership changes, according to Anthem.