Health Insurance Blog

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has kept a close watch on the health care reform debate.  They fully support health care reform to improve medical care to all patients.  For over 70 years BCBSAL has tried to improve health care in Alabama.

Like many health insurance companies, BCBSAL has some concerns about some of the possible federal legislation that may pass.  They worry some of the proposals will have a negative impact on Alabama patients.  One example is the proposal that would create a new plan run by the government and could jeopardize access to coverage as well as affordability to the 160 million people receiving health benefits through their employers.

Another provision would make it possible for people to wait until they need medical care to purchase health insurance, which would make it more expensive for everyone paying in regularly.  It is still uncertain how the debate will pan out, but BCBSAL remains committed to earn the confidence of their customers and keep costs low for as many members as they can.

For many American families, COBRA coverage is still too expensive even with the current COBRA subsidy which is temporarily in place.  The COBRA subsidy program pays 65% of the monthly premiums for up to 15 months, but still can require a substantial monthly expense, as the average family of four still pays on average $389 per month even with the subsidy.

A recent report by eHealthinsurance.com found that in twenty states, families could save $600 per year ($50/mo) by purchasing a family health insurance plan as oppose to opting for the COBRA coverage.  Even with the subsidy!

The twenty states that were found to offer the affordable health insurance identified in the report include:  Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama now offers health and dental coverage for children and young adults from birth to age 24.  According to their website, your child may be eligible if he or she is a resident of Alabama, is not eligible for Medicare, and they meet certain health underwriting guidelines.

This is a fantastic program offered through BCBSAL.  The plan covers doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, outpatient surgery, hospital costs, ambulance services, physical therapy, allergy testing, mental health treatment and many more.

Ages 0-14 can get health insurance quotes as low as $76/mos and ages 15-24 can pay as little as $80/mos.  You can easily add dental coverage as well for as low as $17/mos.  During a time where individual health insurance and family plans can be challenging to find at an affordable price, this is a program that will benefit many.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has a unique website with an important goal.  It’s called BeHealthy.com and it has a lot of valuable information on health topics, health news, and medications.  It’s available to all BCBSAL members and it’s easy to register online.

BCBSAL wants its members to be as healthy as they can be so they created the Be Healthy website as a resource for all to use.  The For Your Health Wellness Program is available on the site and gives consumers the tools they need to live a healthier lifestyle.  By using the resources available on BeHealthy, you can take control of your own health.

Health brochures are available and you can also access their outstanding walking program, called WalkingWorks.  This plan offers a walking program anyone can benefit from.  The young and old will find the For Your Health Program extremely useful.

BCBSAL also has information on Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplemental Insurance on their website.

BCBSAL has a unique walking program available to their members.  More information is available on their webiste.

The walking program offers the opportunity to make a committment to walk regularly and to keep a record of your success.  Research shows that a regular routine of walking briskly daily can help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, strengthening your heart and reducing health problems down the road. 

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends 30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week.  It also is recommened to take approximately 10,000 steps daily to produce the best results.  The BCBSAL Walking Works Program online assists in these goals.  It outlines the importance of walking and offers all the tools you will need to make your walking program effective.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has information about a great program on their website.  “Baby Yourself” is a unique prenatal wellness program which gives expectant mothers important information about infant care and health care during pregnancy.

On the BCBSAL website, it discusses the benefits of the program.  “Baby Yourself” offers all expectant mothers support and educational materials from a Blue Cross registered nurse.  The nurse is experienced in labor, delivery, and newborn care.  You will be assigned your own personal nurse who can be contacted with any questions or concerns.  Gifts and products are available to help support health habits as well as show the importance of understanding all the changes that come with being new parents. 

The program is available to all members and is free as part of their health insurance benefits through BCBSAL.  A video is available on their website entitled “Baby Yourself, A Prenatal Wellness Program” where you can learn more.  You can enroll either online or by telephone.  This is a great initiative by Blue Cross to help support often overwhelmed new mothers and their families.

There has been much much media coverage over the past year regarding rapidly increasing health insurance rates.  Rates have increased significantly this decade for sure, however there are still affordable health insurance plans that can be found.

Individual Blue is a low cost health insurance plan for Alabama residents offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL).  Individual is designed for children and young adults from birth through age 24.

• For children aged 0-14 (with the 750 plan) rates are as low as $69 per month.
• For young adults aged 15-24 with a similar plan rates are as low as $72 per month.

More information about Alabama health insurance.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) member health plans collectively insure more than 100 million Americans, and although they are not supporters of President Obama’s health care reform proposal which would establish a public health plan that would compete with private health insurers, they are firm believers that everyone in our country should have health insurance.  Consequently many Blue Cross Blue Shield member health plans are undertaking state initiatives to increase the availability of affordable health insurance plans to the uninsured.

Over the next several days we will identify some of these state initiatives.

The first initiative is one launched by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, called the Alabama Child Caring Program (ACCP).  The program established in 1988 provides immediate and ongoing care to uninsured children in Alabama who are ineligible for state sponsored health programs.  Since the program was launched, nearly 70,000 Alabama children have received health coverage, helping Alabama lead the nation with the lowest % of uninsured children.

More information about Alabama health insurance.

According to the article “Obama Selects Alabama Doctor as Surgeon General” by Michael D. Shear in the Washington Post, President Obama has chosen Regina Benjamin to be the next Surgeon General.  Benjamin is a family physician from Alabama with a wide range of experience.

Benjamin is most well known for her efforts to rebuild her area after Hurricane Katrina.  She founded the Bayou La Rural Health Clinic back in 1990.  She is the first black woman to be the head of the State of Alabama Medical Association and was also the dean for rural health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.

Obama made this announcement at a Rose Garden event July 13th where he also discussed concerns over health insurance and health care reform.  Obama believes Benjamin is well prepared to face the challenges this debate brings.  The President’s first choice was CNN’s Sanjay Gupta, but he pulled out of the running a few months ago to spend more time with family.