| The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association | | | | Arrangement (HRA), Indemnity and Traditional |
| (BCBSA) is a national federation of thirty | | | | Coverage, Point-of-Service (POS) and |
| nine independent companies which is | | | | Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Here |
| community-based and locally operated. For | | | | are some facts about the Blue Cross and Blue |
| more than seventy years, the thirty nine Blue | | | | Shield Association. It has 65.8 million in |
| Cross and Blue Shield companies have offered | | | | PPOs, 12.9 million in traditional, |
| affordable with top quality health insurances | | | | fee-for-service programs, 4.8 million in |
| for millions of families across America. It | | | | point-of-service (POS) products and 15.9 |
| represents the nation's one of the largest | | | | million in HMOs. All health insurance |
| and oldest family of health benefits | | | | companies use historical data and other |
| companies. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield | | | | analysis to predict the medical expenditures |
| Association brands are highly recognized in | | | | for any individuals group that can be a |
| the health insurance industry which has a | | | | company's employees. The premiums charged |
| headquarters in Chicago with offices in | | | | depends upon the amount of claims they have |
| Washington DC. At BCBSA more than 880 | | | | paid previously. When insurers pay more in |
| staffers work and BCBSA has various | | | | claims than they would receive in premiums |
| Departments and other national programs. | | | | and future services are expected to cost |
| | | | more, premiums go up. |
| The thirty nine, Blue Cross and Blue Shield | | | | |
| System offers healthcare coverages for more | | | | As consumers, we are looking for more medical |
| than 100 million American citizens which is | | | | services and the price of these services are |
| one in three Americans! BCBSA is the 20th | | | | going up. These increased prices are moved on |
| largest employers in the U.S. and their | | | | to the staffs in the form of premiums. |
| healthcare coverages are available in all 50 | | | | Insurance companies work with staffs to |
| states, including the District of Columbia | | | | adjust services provided, as well as the |
| and also in Puerto Rico. If you look | | | | deductibles and co-payments, to reduce the |
| nationwide, more than ninety percent of | | | | impact of rising costs. Always take time to |
| hospitals and eighty percent of physicians | | | | understand your health insurance; it will |
| contract with BCBS companies, which are more | | | | help you save healthcare dollars for you and |
| than any other insurance company! Blue Cross | | | | for other Americans. For instance, many |
| and Blue Shield companies provide a wide | | | | health insurance plans provide reduced co-pay |
| range of insurance products to all the | | | | if you select FDA approved generic |
| segments of the American population that will | | | | prescription medicines/drugs, so you pay |
| include large employer groups, small | | | | lesser. Because the total average cost of a |
| individuals and businesses. | | | | generic medicine/drug is nearly three times |
| | | | less when compared to the brand name, it |
| Today Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association | | | | helps keeping the costs down on your health |
| provide different types of coverages such as | | | | plan. Understanding the ABCs on how insurance |
| Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health | | | | plans work and how to make use of your own |
| Maintenance Organization (HMO), Health | | | | insurance plan will help keep healthcare |
| Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement | | | | affordable for all citizens. |