Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) today announced a new legislative proposal designed to help hundreds of thousands of the "working uninsured" in the state gain access to health care through affordable health insurance. The proposal, which requires all private health insurance carriers in the state to participate, would require qualified small businesses with between two and 50 employees - in addition to offering the currently mandated small group insurance coverage - to offer a basic health insurance option tailored to meet their needs.
"This proposal adopts an incremental approach that could have a major impact on a significant segment of our state's uninsured population, and at the same time, reduce uncompensated care," said Paul S. Boulis, BCBSIL president. "And it doesn't disrupt the existing health care system, which serves the 84 percent of Illinoisans who are insured." "One-size-fits-all proposals that totally overhaul the system have not proven to be cost effective," he added.
More than 1.7 million (16 percent) of Illinoisans don't have health insurance Some 16 percent, or more than 1.7 million Illinoisans do not have health insurance - approximately 1.1 million of them are either employed or are family members of the employed. A significant portion of the uninsured works for small businesses.
"Not having health insurance can be detrimental to people's personal and financial health and well-being," said Boulis. "Further, uncompensated care is a burden on individuals, employers, providers and others, because it increases health care costs overall. The proposed legislation would reduce uncompensated care by bringing new resources into the health care system."
Proposal for "working uninsured" in small businesses While the proposal would require small business owners to offer their employees basic health coverage, it would not require them to contribute to premiums. Those businesses that choose to contribute would be offered state tax credits. Means testing would ensure that people who need this benefit the most, the working uninsured, get it. Employees of businesses that qualify for the program would be guaranteed access to the new benefit option.
"We're offering a simple proposal that would help the state overall, individuals, small businesses and providers, in addition to the working uninsured," said Boulis. "We call upon members of the Illinois General Assembly to help make this proposal a reality in order to increase access to health care through affordable health coverage."
Proposal part of missionThis proposed legislation is consistent with BCBSIL's mission, which is to provide access to high-quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in the markets it serves. As the largest and one of the oldest providers of health insurance in Illinois, BCBSIL believes its expertise can help inform this dialogue and solve the problem of the state's uninsured population.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IllinoisBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. It began in 1936 as Hospital Service Corporation with the Blue Cross symbol officially adopted in 1939. Currently, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides health insurance coverage for 6.9 million people.
HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
BCBSIL and Medequote
Medequote is a premier BCBSIL agent that provides excellent customer service to those searching for a BCBSIL health insurance plan.
BCBSIL is one of the pnly companies in Illinois offering maternity coverage for individuals.
For more questions give us visit us at www.medequote.com
BCBSIL is one of the pnly companies in Illinois offering maternity coverage for individuals.
For more questions give us visit us at www.medequote.com
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
BCBSIL Health Plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Illinois' largest health insurer, now provides an extensive menu of health insurance plans for individuals, families and self-employed persons.Rate GuaranteeInitial rates are guaranteed for 12 months -- subject to change due to moving to a different geographic rating area, or due to attained age (entering a new 5-year age bracket, such as going from the 35-39 age bracket to the 40-44 age bracket).
SelectBlue PPO Plan
Exceptional Coverage
SelectBlue provides the most extensive benefits of any "individual" health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. SelectBlue highlights include:
Illinois's largest PPO network
$20 office visit co-pay benefit
Prescription drug co-pay card benefit available with lower deductible options.
Preventive care benefits for adults and children
$5,000,000 lifetime maximum benefit
Choice of either 80% or 100% coverage for services provided by PPO physicians and hospitals
Optional maternity benefits
BlueValue PPO Plan - More Affordable Coverage
BlueValue provides the same kind of comprehensive coverage provided by the SelectBlue – WITH THREE DIFFERENCES:
Does not include the $20 office visit co-pay benefit. Office visits are covered subject to the annual deductible. Does not include a prescription drug card co-pay benefit. Prescription drugs are covered subject to the annual deductible. Does not include adult wellness benefits.
SelectBlue Advantage and BlueValue Advantage
The "Advantage" plans are modified versions of the SelectBlue and BlueValue plans described above. They provide access to the same huge Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO network, but offer less generous benefits. This "Advantage" plans are priced about 10% below SelectBlue and BlueValue.
BlueChoice Select and BlueChoice Value
These plans offer benefits similar to the "Advantage" plans, but are coupled with the "BlueChoice" network, a smaller version of the the "regular" Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO network. If you can accept some reduced hospital and physician choice, you can get additional premium savings from BlueChoice Select and BlueChoice Value products.
HSA-Compatible High Deductible Health Plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois now offers multiple Health Savings Account (HSA)-compatible plans with various deductible options. All these HSA-compatible plans provide outstanding national PPO provider choice and the financial advantage of deep discounts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois has negotiated with its PPO network hospitals and physicians.Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois can also initiate the process of opening an HSA with Mellon Financial. If you want to take advantage of this convenience, you simply indicate your intention when completing the HSA-compatible plan application form.
BasicBlue
Basic Coverage at Lowest PriceBasicBlue provides quality coverage for hospitalization, surgery, testing and emergency medical services, but does not cover most outpatient services, including doctor office visits and prescriptions. BasicBlue is a good choice for those seeking the lowest cost, but needing coverage for health services most likely to involve catastrophic expense.
SelectBlue PPO Plan
Exceptional Coverage
SelectBlue provides the most extensive benefits of any "individual" health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. SelectBlue highlights include:
Illinois's largest PPO network
$20 office visit co-pay benefit
Prescription drug co-pay card benefit available with lower deductible options.
Preventive care benefits for adults and children
$5,000,000 lifetime maximum benefit
Choice of either 80% or 100% coverage for services provided by PPO physicians and hospitals
Optional maternity benefits
BlueValue PPO Plan - More Affordable Coverage
BlueValue provides the same kind of comprehensive coverage provided by the SelectBlue – WITH THREE DIFFERENCES:
Does not include the $20 office visit co-pay benefit. Office visits are covered subject to the annual deductible. Does not include a prescription drug card co-pay benefit. Prescription drugs are covered subject to the annual deductible. Does not include adult wellness benefits.
SelectBlue Advantage and BlueValue Advantage
The "Advantage" plans are modified versions of the SelectBlue and BlueValue plans described above. They provide access to the same huge Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO network, but offer less generous benefits. This "Advantage" plans are priced about 10% below SelectBlue and BlueValue.
BlueChoice Select and BlueChoice Value
These plans offer benefits similar to the "Advantage" plans, but are coupled with the "BlueChoice" network, a smaller version of the the "regular" Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO network. If you can accept some reduced hospital and physician choice, you can get additional premium savings from BlueChoice Select and BlueChoice Value products.
HSA-Compatible High Deductible Health Plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois now offers multiple Health Savings Account (HSA)-compatible plans with various deductible options. All these HSA-compatible plans provide outstanding national PPO provider choice and the financial advantage of deep discounts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois has negotiated with its PPO network hospitals and physicians.Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois can also initiate the process of opening an HSA with Mellon Financial. If you want to take advantage of this convenience, you simply indicate your intention when completing the HSA-compatible plan application form.
BasicBlue
Basic Coverage at Lowest PriceBasicBlue provides quality coverage for hospitalization, surgery, testing and emergency medical services, but does not cover most outpatient services, including doctor office visits and prescriptions. BasicBlue is a good choice for those seeking the lowest cost, but needing coverage for health services most likely to involve catastrophic expense.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Mystery still exists in billing codes
House leaders on Wednesday removed a provision that would have required hospitals to make public some price information from a health care information technology bill (HR 4157), CQ Today reports (Crowley, CQ Today, 7/26). The legislation, sponsored by Reps. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) and Nathan Deal (R-Ga.), would codify the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within HHS and would establish a committee to make recommendations on national standards for medical data storage and develop a permanent structure to govern national interoperability standards. The bill also would clarify that current medical privacy laws apply to data stored or transmitted electronically and would require the HHS secretary to recommend to Congress a privacy standard to reconcile differences in federal and state laws. Under the bill, the number of billing codes health care providers use to file insurance claims would increase from 24,000 to more than 200,000 by Oct. 1, 2009 (American Health Line, 6/8).
In addition, the legislation would provide grants of about $30 million for the implementation of electronic health record systems. According to CQ Today, the "price transparency" provision, supported by conservative lawmakers as part of an effort to "make the health care marketplace more amenable" to health savings accounts, "angered the hospital industry, which lobbied lawmakers to take it out of the bill." Some lawmakers also criticized the provision because the measure did not appear in versions of the bill passed in June by the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees. The removal of the provision "is likely to help smooth passage of the bill ... when it comes to the floor Thursday," CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 7/26). One House leader on Wednesday said that the legislation likely will pass (O'Connor et al., The Hill, 7/27).
In addition, the legislation would provide grants of about $30 million for the implementation of electronic health record systems. According to CQ Today, the "price transparency" provision, supported by conservative lawmakers as part of an effort to "make the health care marketplace more amenable" to health savings accounts, "angered the hospital industry, which lobbied lawmakers to take it out of the bill." Some lawmakers also criticized the provision because the measure did not appear in versions of the bill passed in June by the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees. The removal of the provision "is likely to help smooth passage of the bill ... when it comes to the floor Thursday," CQ Today reports (CQ Today, 7/26). One House leader on Wednesday said that the legislation likely will pass (O'Connor et al., The Hill, 7/27).
Friday, July 28, 2006
To help control rising health care costs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) has contracted with American Imaging Management (AIM) to implement a statewide utilization management and quality improvement program of high-tech outpatient diagnostic imaging services. Beginning April 3, a Radiology Quality Initiative (RQI) program will be implemented for elective, outpatient, high-tech imaging services - MRI, PET, CT, Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) Scans and Nuclear Cardiology - for all members, except HMO, residing in Illinois and Lake County, Indiana.
The RQI program promotes appropriate ordering of outpatient diagnostic imaging services based upon the member's diagnosis, while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure.
What does this mean?Effective for dates of service on or after April 15, 2006, all non-emergency imaging services listed above, when performed in a physician's office, outpatient department of a hospital or a freestanding imaging facility will require an RQI number.
How RQI WorksPhysicians ordering an imaging exam for the elective high-tech services must contact AIM prior to scheduling. The recommended service is evaluated to determine the appropriateness according to diagnosis. AIM will also direct the ordering physician to a contracting network provider as needed.
AIM will provide a consultative service to physicians, helping them select the most appropriate radiological service for their patients. Although physicians' orders will go through AIM's clinical review process, no denials will be given and no medical necessity decision will be rendered. The RQI process will be transparent to members.
Contact AIMOrdering physicians can obtain and imaging service providers can confirm a patient's RQI number either online; www.americanimaging.net or by calling AIM's RQI Department toll-free at 1-866-455-8415 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CST).
Note: issuance of an RQI number is not a guarantee of payment. The claim will be processed in accordance with the terms of the subscriber's health benefit plan.
Physician Training AIM and BCBSIL are currently providing extensive training for physicians on the RQI processes, along with a guidebook including program instructions and contact information. Additionally, training schedules for the RQI Program are currently available on our web site at www.bcbsil.com.
For more information about BCBSIL health plans please visit www.medequote.com
The RQI program promotes appropriate ordering of outpatient diagnostic imaging services based upon the member's diagnosis, while minimizing unnecessary radiation exposure.
What does this mean?Effective for dates of service on or after April 15, 2006, all non-emergency imaging services listed above, when performed in a physician's office, outpatient department of a hospital or a freestanding imaging facility will require an RQI number.
How RQI WorksPhysicians ordering an imaging exam for the elective high-tech services must contact AIM prior to scheduling. The recommended service is evaluated to determine the appropriateness according to diagnosis. AIM will also direct the ordering physician to a contracting network provider as needed.
AIM will provide a consultative service to physicians, helping them select the most appropriate radiological service for their patients. Although physicians' orders will go through AIM's clinical review process, no denials will be given and no medical necessity decision will be rendered. The RQI process will be transparent to members.
Contact AIMOrdering physicians can obtain and imaging service providers can confirm a patient's RQI number either online; www.americanimaging.net or by calling AIM's RQI Department toll-free at 1-866-455-8415 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CST).
Note: issuance of an RQI number is not a guarantee of payment. The claim will be processed in accordance with the terms of the subscriber's health benefit plan.
Physician Training AIM and BCBSIL are currently providing extensive training for physicians on the RQI processes, along with a guidebook including program instructions and contact information. Additionally, training schedules for the RQI Program are currently available on our web site at www.bcbsil.com.
For more information about BCBSIL health plans please visit www.medequote.com
Blue Care Connection Program
Blue Care Connection provides personalized attention, support, online resources and health advocacy to help you find the right resources, optimize your health care benefits and manage medical conditions.
Utilization and Case Management – These programs are supported by health care professionals, including doctors and nurses who can help you understand your benefits and identify health care resources.
Mental Health and Chemical Dependency – Behavioral health professionals help you find doctors for mental health and chemical dependency management and certify inpatient or partial hospitalization.
Care Advisor – A registered nurse can assist you with questions about chronic conditions and coordinate care, providing you with a single point of contact.
Personal Health Resources – Numerous online tools help you manage your overall health care. You can create a personal health record to keep track of personal health information. You have access to online health content to research health topics.
Healthy Expectations™ – This program helps pregnant members and their babies get off to a healthy start by providing educational materials and support including pregnancy risk assessment and monitoring.
For more information visit www.medequote.com
Utilization and Case Management – These programs are supported by health care professionals, including doctors and nurses who can help you understand your benefits and identify health care resources.
Mental Health and Chemical Dependency – Behavioral health professionals help you find doctors for mental health and chemical dependency management and certify inpatient or partial hospitalization.
Care Advisor – A registered nurse can assist you with questions about chronic conditions and coordinate care, providing you with a single point of contact.
Personal Health Resources – Numerous online tools help you manage your overall health care. You can create a personal health record to keep track of personal health information. You have access to online health content to research health topics.
Healthy Expectations™ – This program helps pregnant members and their babies get off to a healthy start by providing educational materials and support including pregnancy risk assessment and monitoring.
For more information visit www.medequote.com
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Blue Edge HSA from BCBSIL
BlueEdge plans are easy to understand and use. With BlueEdge, you’ll enjoy seamless claims integration and decision-making tools that help you manage your health care benefit needs as well as your budget. BCBSIL provides integrated consumer-centered services that help you understand your health care choices.
BlueEdge plans include coverage for adult and child Preventive Care and Wellness visits that help you stay healthy.
Spending Account funds can be used to pay for health care expenses. Eligible expenses will count toward your deductible.
Online Resources include innovative, easy-to-use online tools to help you manage your health care and your health care spending. These useful tools will help you budget health care expenses, keep track of your Spending Account, review costs for common health services, research and compare hospitals in your area, find a network doctor and learn more about making wise decisions to stay healthy and fit.
Many of our BlueEdge plans include PPO benefits. When you receive care from doctors in your network, benefits are paid at the highest level and you have fewer out-of-pocket costs.
For more information on Blue Edge HSA's from BCBSIL, or any other Illinois HSA product please give us a call at 800-391-7469, or visit our website at www.medequote.com
BlueEdge plans include coverage for adult and child Preventive Care and Wellness visits that help you stay healthy.
Spending Account funds can be used to pay for health care expenses. Eligible expenses will count toward your deductible.
Online Resources include innovative, easy-to-use online tools to help you manage your health care and your health care spending. These useful tools will help you budget health care expenses, keep track of your Spending Account, review costs for common health services, research and compare hospitals in your area, find a network doctor and learn more about making wise decisions to stay healthy and fit.
Many of our BlueEdge plans include PPO benefits. When you receive care from doctors in your network, benefits are paid at the highest level and you have fewer out-of-pocket costs.
For more information on Blue Edge HSA's from BCBSIL, or any other Illinois HSA product please give us a call at 800-391-7469, or visit our website at www.medequote.com
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
BCBSIL introduces new discount hearing aid program
All members of a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois group health plan now have access to a discount program which allows them to purchase digital hearing aids at a substantially reduced price. This program is available through an arrangement with TruHearing*, a company with a national network of more than 1,200 hearing care professionals. This discount program is available to members and their covered dependents, as well as parents and grandparents.
Features of the TruHearing program include:
Features of the TruHearing program include:
Free hearing screening when performed for the purpose of fitting a hearing instrument
Selection of hearing aid styles at different price levels
45-day money back guarantee
2-year warranty
To learn more about the TruHearing program, find a location or schedule a hearing test, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois members can call (866) 687-2020 toll free.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois health plans are available at www.medequote.com
*The relationship between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and TruHearing is that of independent contractors.
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