Walgreen to Help Promote Health Exchanges

Will distribute information at 8,000 stores

Walgreen Co. (WAG), the biggest U.S. drugstore chain, agreed to join with the largest federation of health insurers to promote the Affordable Care Act, lending a hand as the Obama administration strains to win over the public.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, comprising 38 state and local health plans including 14 owned by WellPoint Inc. (WLP), said today it will set up an educational website with Walgreen and distribute information in the retailer's 8,000 stores. The campaign is aimed at encouraging people without insurance to use the government exchanges to shop for subsidized health plans.