At the Mall? Pick Up Some Health Care

The nation's largest health provider is trying a new tack: selling insurance from a stripmall storefront. The suburban Florida Blue Cross shop hopes to attract some of the state's 4 million uninsured residents, and it's part of an "overall retail transformation" of the industry, a spokesman tells NPR. Consumers are warming to the idea of visiting health clinics in Wal-Mart, he adds, and these storefronts follow suit.

An industry researcher worries some shoppers may scoop up cheaper, but too limited, coverage. "Some people don't really understand the limits of what they're getting," he says. Plans vary from full hospitalization to medical discounts for $20 a month, and are attracting retirees, the self-employed, and young people. Reasons a 28-year-old, "Eventually you're going to need coverage. You can't be young forever."
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