Health Insurance Blog

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) doesn’t advertise their Medicare Supplement plans because they are such money losers for the company.  BCBSM has a dominant market position with nearly 60% market share, and the second largest Medicare Supplement membership rests with United Healthcare who maintains just under 20% of the market.

Several other health insurance carriers in Michigan are trying to take advantage of the fact that BCBSM’s is not marketing their plans aggressively by launching products of their own in Michigan in 2010.  Priority Health, Aetna, and Blue Care Network (a subsidiary of BCBSM), will all launch Medicare Supplement offerings to Michigan residents in 2010.  In addition, Health Alliance Plan began selling Medicare Supplements in 2008.

More information about Michigan health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) has introduced a new Medicare Advantage plan to its portfolio of health plans for seniors.

BlueMedicare Regional PPO joins a senior health insurance portfolio which already included HMO, PPO, Fee-for-service, Medicare Part D, and traditional Medicare Supplement Plans.

BlueMedicare Regional PPO is available across Florida for a $45 monthly premium.  Benefits include the ability for members to choose theit own doctors ans hospitals with no referrals required, as well as both in-network and out-of-network coverage.

More information about Florida health insurance and Medicare Advantage Plans.

One of the regular items we blog about here at healthinsurancesort.com is finding affordable health plans across the country to assist our uninsured readers in finding health plans that fit within their budgets. These plans might not be for everybody, but it can’t hurt to be aware that they exist.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) offers and affordable health care option called Foundation Hospital Care PPO. This health plan is not comprehensive major medical insurance but rather a limited benefit plan that only covers health care expenses related to inpatient hospitalization coverage.

The plan offers

• Affordable, cost effective health coverage for inpatient settings
• Freedom to choose your hospitals
• Individual, spouse and child coverage
• 24 hour worldwide coverage
• No balance billing above the Allowable Amount

Limited benefit plans are not right for everybody, but might fit your needs in a pinch.

more information about Texas health insurance and BCBSTX

Effective January 1, Blue Shield of California will be removed from the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) because their premiums were substantially higher than the rates offered by the other two insurers that make up the Program.

The MRMIP currently covers almost 7,000 California residents who are unable to purchase private health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

Health insurance companies that participate in the MRMIP Program are allowed to charge 25% higher premium than the market rate for a given health insurance policy, and if the insurer loses money they will be reimbursed by the state.  Despite the state subsidization, Blue Shield’s health insurance rates were much higher than both Kaiser Permananete’s or Anthem Blue Cross of California.

Current enrollees in the MRMIP Program via Blue Shield will be able to keep their existing coverage until January 1, and then must enroll with one of the other health plans that participate in the Program.

More information about California health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has an awards program called Blueworks which is a collaboration between BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield website in their Newsroom.

The Blueworks program is in its 5th year and last week they recognized 6 Blue Cross Blue Shield companies with a total of 7 Blueworks Awards for innovative approaches to improving the quality of health care for comsumers. 

Harvard researchers evaluate and choose BCBS companies’ health care programs for recognition based on their innovation, and potential for replication.  BCBSA president and CEO, Scott P. Serota says that the winning programs are great examples of the work Blue Cross Blue Shield companies are doing in the community to improve health care.  They are providing consumers with valuable information needed to help make educated health care decisions. 

BlueEdge is a high-deductible health plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) that can be combined to form an HSA. There are also BlueEdge plan options for employer groups that work in conjunction with health reimbursement arrangements.

BlueEdge also includes coverage for both preventative & wellness benefits.

Health savings accounts are effective ways to keep monthly premiums down, especially for individuals or families that are relatively healthy.

Health insurance rates for BlueEdge can be as low as $75/mo or for BlueChoice PPO as low as $58/mo.

More information about Illinois health insurance.

Although health insurance rates continue to rise, affordable health insurance can still be found.  Flexible Blue is an affordable individual health plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) for families and individuals who live in Michigan.

Flexible Blue is an HSA qualified health insurance plan, with monthly premiums as low as $52.82 per month for a plan with a 5000 deductible.

Maternity Coverage, and Dental Insurance are optional packages that can be added to your Flexible Blue health insurance plan

More information about Michigan health insurance.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSFL) offers a Medical Discount Card called FamilyBlue that provides discounts on health care.  FamilyBlue is not health insurance, but it does provide discounts on heath care services which is negotiated with providers.

As mentioned above, FamilyBlue is not health insurance, and should be viewed as a last resort only if health insurance cannot be obtained.  If you shop around and compare rates for individual health insurance plans in Florida you will find that there are many affordable health plans available.  A true health insurance plan will offer superior benefits and protect you more comprehensively should you have an accident or become ill.

There are two different FamilyBlue Plans.

• $14.95/mo.per family - discounts on doctor visits, medical services, and Rx drugs.
• $19.95/mo. per family - discounts on doctor visits, medical services, Rx drugs, as well as dental, vision, diabetic supplies, hearing, vitamins and more

More information about Florida health insurance.

On Blue Cross Blue Shield’s website there is a news article entitled “New Census Report Underscores Need for Health Care Reform”.  It has a statement from President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield Scott P. Serota.  The statement follows after the release of the report from the US Census Bureau that shows the number of uninsured Americans increased from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.4 million in 2008. 

Serota points out that no one should have to worry about having quality, affordable health insurance.  He believes that 46 million uninsured is unacceptable.  It’s an important reminder of the critical need for health care reform.  According to Serota, we should enact bipartisan health care reform this year that will give health insurance coverage to everyone. 

Blue Cross Blue Shield companies support initiatives working towards this goal.  They want to build on the employer based system currently in place.  He says the high number of uninsured is partly because of the recession, but something still needs to be done now to fix this problem. 

Intermountain Healthcare (IHC) of Utah could be a good model for health insurance reform in the US.   They are admired far and wide for delivering low-cost, high-quality health care.  IHC’s Selecthealth division is the top health insurance compnay in Utah with over 36% marketshare.  Other leanding health insurance companies in Utah include:  Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Utah (16% marketshare), and Altius Health Plans (15%).

Intermountain’s relatively unique healthcare delivery system involves provising health insurance coverage while owning the hospitals and employing the doctors, which gives them greater control over costs.

More information about Utah health insurance.