BCBSAL Walking Works Program

BCBSAL has a new walking program called "Walking Works" available to their members. Information about the program can be found of the BCBSAL website.

The BCBSAL walking program offers the ability to make a firm committment to walk on a regular basis and to record progress. Research says that walking briskly daily can help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, muscle tone, reducing bone loss, strengthening your heart and reducing potential health problems in the future.

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends thirty minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week. A goal of 10,000 steps per day is optimal for good health. BCBSAL's Walking Works Program online assists in all of these goals. It outlines the benefits of walking regularly and offers the tools you will need to meet your walking program goals.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and Their Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare supplement plans often lose money for companies as is the case for Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Michigan (BCBSM). Because of this, they do not generally market their medicare supplement product.

Currently, BCBSM has a majority market share for this product at about 60% despite not aggressively advertising Medicare supplement plans. The second largest market share is United Healthcare just below 20%. That shows how little market share is left for other health insurance companies. But other health insurers are trying to take advantage of the fact that BCBSM isn't promoting this product.

Priority Health, Aetna and Blue Care Network all plan on launching Medicare Supplement plans to Michigan residents in the coming year. Health Alliance Plan has been selling Medicare supplement plans since 2008. Blue Care Network is a subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan so will share market share.

BCBSAL New Baby Program

"Baby Yourself" is a new program for to-be parents and new parents brought to you by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. All of the information about the program can be found on their website, but below are some highlights.

This unique prenatal benefit offers expectant mothers support and educational material to help inform parents all that comes with having a newborn. Materials are gone over by a Blue Cross registered nurse who has experience in labor/delivery and infant care. A personal nurse is assigned to families to answer any questions parents may have. Complimentary products are available to support healthy habits and to learn about the various products on the market.

All members of BCBSAL have access to this plan free of charge as part of their plan benefits. Their website has a video available as well which discusses many highlights of being new parents. It's called "Baby Yourself, A Prenatal Wellness Program". You can enroll for this useful program through their website or by calling their toll free number which is listed on their site. With new parents often being extremely overwhelmed with all the information that is out there, this plan proves to be very valuable.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Offer

A new Medicare Advantage plan has been offered to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida's portfolio for eligible members. BlueMedicare Regional PPO has joined a senior health insurance group which already includes HMO, PPO, Fee for service, medicare part D as well as other traditional Medicare Supplement Plans.

The monthly premium for this plan is extremely low at $45 per month. Members can choose their own physicians and as well as their own hospital. No referral letters are required to see specialists. There is in-network and out-of-network options for the members.

This opportunity is very useful for members of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. Seniors who are eligible for this particular plan should research what benefits will be made available to them. Saving money and ensuring proper health insurance coverage are two high priorities for seniors in general and this plan helps attain both goals at once.

Blue Cross Terminating Some Plans

According to the article “Medicare Advantage Premiums Expected to Rise 25% Next Year” by Jane Zhang for The Wall Street Journal online, rates that seniors citizens pay for Medicare Advantage are increasing soon. This is partly because insurance companies are cancelling many plans that carry no premiums in response to new federal guidelines.

Independence Blue Cross is terminating plans that cover approximately 44,000 seniors. Other companies are cancelling their plans or reducing them dramatically. The number of Medicare Advantage Plans will drop by about 40% overall according to an Avalere analysis. It's important to understand what changes may be made to your plan. If you have lost your coverage you can shop for replacement coverage at http://www.healthinsurancesort.com/.

Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Blueworks Program

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has an important awards program. Blueworks is a collaboration between BCBSA and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy. This information was found on Blue Cross Blue Shield's website in their Newsroom.

The Blueworks program has been giving awards for the last five years and last week they recognized 6 more BCBS companies with a total of 7 Blueworks Awards for new and creative ways of improving the quality of the health care system.

The Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy researchers evaluate and choose BCBS companies’ health care programs for recognition based on their innovation. BCBSA president and CEO, Scott P. Serota states that the winning programs are great examples of the work BCBS companies are doing in the community to improve the health care system. They are providing consumers with extremely valuable information needed to help make important health care and health insurance decisions.

BCBSM and the Flexible Blue

During these tough economic times, many are looking for ways to save money on health insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) offers an affordable individual health care plan called Flexible Blue which is available to residents of Michigan.

Monthly premiums for Flexible Blue can be as low as $52.82/mos with a $5000 deductible and it is an HSA qualified health insurance program. They also include optional plans that can be added such as maternity coverage and dental insurance. It's just one more example of Blue Cross Blue Shield trying to help people save money.