The Saucon Valley Capital Blue Connect Center in Center Valley recently celebrated 10 years of helping to make a healthier Lehigh Valley, marking the milestone at the center in the Promenade Shops on Center Valley Parkway.

Festivities featured both a holiday and health focus, as Capital invited attendees to honor the season’s spirit by bringing new or gently used winter coats, gloves, and hats to benefit Sheridan ES. The event also included free chair massages, a chance to meet the Disney Princesses, holiday face painting, live holiday music, prizes, and refreshments.

“We’re so proud of having served the needs of the Lehigh Valley for a decade at our Saucon Valley Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness center,” said Capital Blue Cross Director of Retail Services Mike Crnovic. “Through the numerous wellness services offered and our personalized approach to helping customers make informed decisions about their individual, Medicare, or small business health insurance needs, this Connect center has helped the Lehigh Valley community get healthier.”

Ten years and a pandemic after its groundbreaking entry into the Lehigh Valley health and wellness market, the Saucon Valley Connect center is now one of five Capital Connect centers in four counties – Lehigh, Cumberland, Franklin and York.

“And our Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness center at Saucon Valley is where it all began,” said Dave Skerpon, Capital Blue Cross senior vice president of sales and marketing.

A decade ago, this 10-year anniversary was the last thing on Skerpon’s mind. Back then, he focused on finding innovative ways for Capital to connect more intimately with consumers after the 2010 passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – or Obamacare.

The Saucon Valley Connect center, opened on Dec. 12, 2012, was a big step toward that connection. The center has hosted hundreds of wellness and community events, health education events, book signings, and fitness classes. People seeking coverage, or members with questions about their plans, have filed in as well, and have purchased individual, Medicare, dental and vision, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), small business, and international travel health coverage there. In 2021, the team sold more than 4,700 plans.

“So many people have told us, ‘This is exactly what we’ve been looking for,’ ” Skerpon said.

Contributed article