Launched in time to prepare consumers for this year's benefits open enrollment season, Health Care Lane's "online community" goes beyond helping select the right health plan and provides straightforward conversations about various health-related topics.

Health Care Lane (www.healthcarelane.com) discusses many of the UnitedHealthcare programs available to members. Members can visit the online town to interact with fictitious businesses and their employees, each representing a different health care topic. Visitors can learn about both basic and complex health insurance topics such as what a premium is, the difference between generic and brand-name prescriptions, or the advantages of a Health Savings Account (HSA).

As individuals stroll through town, some of the businesses they can visit include:

• The WiFi Café to learn about online health tools and calculators;
• The Town Bank to learn about Health Savings Accounts;
• The Public Library for definitions of various common health insurance terms;
• The Local City Market for tips on how to reduce their health care costs;
• The Fitness Center to learn about wellness programs and healthy lifestyles; and many others.