BCBSIL / BCBSTX Merger information

Several years ago, Illinois BCBS (BCBSIL) and Texas BCBS (BCBSTX) submitted proposals to merge. BCBSIL is a mutual insurance company that can become for-profit by a vote of a majority of its board, while BCBSTX was a nonprofit health services corporation. The Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit to block the proposed merger in 1996, arguing that the proposed merger violated Texas law because the Illinois company did not meet the Texas definition of a “nonprofit.” In 1998, the trial court issued a letter opinion against the Attorney General and in favor of the merger. The court held, contrary to much of the evidence before it, that BCBSTX is not a charitable corporation and that BCBSIL meets the Texas definition of a nonprofit corporation.

In 1998, BCBSIL pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud charges for the years 1985 through 1994 and agreed to pay $144 million in fines to the federal government, the largest penalty assessed against a Medicare claims processor for fraud. As a result of its fraudulent activities, BCBSIL received $1.29 million in undeserved bonuses.

Also in 1998, the Texas Attorney General agreed not to appeal the issue of whether BCBSIL met the Texas definition of a nonprofit corporation and allowed the merger to move forward. In exchange, BCBSIL agreed to pay $10 million over five years to Texas Healthy Kids Corporation (for subsidies to low-income families buying insurance for their children). The merger was approved by the Insurance Departments of both Texas and Illinois in late 1998 and has now been consummated.

The Texas Attorney General appealed the trial court ruling that BCBSTX was not a charitable organization. In 2003, the Court of Appeals for the Third Judicial District upheld the trial court’s ruling. Weeks later, the Attorney General discovered and shared with the Court of Appeals a written history, which was authorized, underwritten, and published by BCBSTX, entitled Lone Star Legacy: The Birth of Group Hospitalization and the Story of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (1999). In it, the author stated that BCBSTX had, in fact, solicited and received charitable donations over the years. Because of the new evidence, the Attorney General asked the Court of Appeals to reconsider its affirmation of the trial court’s ruling, which the Court refused to do. In early 2004, the Attorney General filed a petition for review of this matter with the Supreme Court of Texas. The Court rejected the Attorney General’s petition. In 2005, the Attorney General filed a Bill of Review with the Court asking it to reconsider.

Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the Illinois company that operates BCBSTX and BCBSIL, acquired Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico in May 2001. Also in 2001, HCSC filed an application with regulators in six states to “affiliate” with Blues plans in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah. However, one week before public hearings were to begin on this proposal, HCSC announced it was withdrawing its application.

In 2005, HCSC proposed to merge with the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan in Oklahoma/

Information on health plans from BCBSIL, and BCBSTX can be found at www.medequote.net

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Medicare Supplements

At Medequote we fell that BCBSIL-Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois have the best and most reliable package of senior health care programs in Illinois. The reputation of BCBSIl in this area speaks for itself. In fact Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has been providing outstanding health benefits to Illinois residents for over 65 years. Today, more than 300,000 members, age 65 and over, all across the state depend on BCBSIL for solid benefits, savings and a commitment to service.

Medicare is a federal program to help older Americans and some disabled Americans pay for the high cost of health care. However, Medicare was never intended to cover all your health care costs. So even if you’re covered by Medicare, you are still responsible for a large portion of your health care costs.

Medicare does not cover all health care costs. Medicare coverage consists of Part A (which covers hospital and skilled nursing facility care), and Part B (which covers doctor bills and other medical expenses).

Even with Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, you’re responsible for some out-of-pocket expenses including:

• Part A hospital deductible ($952)
• Copayments for hospital stays over 60 days
• Care in a skilled nursing facility after 20 days
• Part B deductible ($124)
• Twenty percent coinsurance for doctor bills and other medical expenses

Without Medicare Supplement insurance, your out-of-pocket costs could add up to more than $46,100 this year alone!

Private insurers offer Medicare Supplement insurance to fill in the gaps for hospital and medical expenses Medicare does not pay. By law, Medicare Supplement insurance is standardized into twelve plans (Plans A through L). That means Plan F from one company must include the same benefits as plan F from another company.

While the benefits must be the same, each company’s rates, reputation, membership features and quality of service can vary.

For more information concerning BCBSIL- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Medicare supplement plans visit www.medequote.com

BCBSIL Select Blue Plans

Select Blue is the cadillac of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois - BCBSIL health plans it provides
exceptional coverage. Select Blue provides the most extensive benefits of any "individual" health insurance plan offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.

The plans are really the only game in town for deductibles under $1000 which is an area most health insurance carriers shy away from. Once you have a $1000 or higher deductible the drug plan significantly diminishes, still the plan is solid and competitive. Compare it to the UniCare Fit plans when you are comparison shopping.

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

BCBSIL is the place you want to go for "individual" maternity. One of the few carriers who still carry the option, they have the most competive price while offering the best benefits for maternity in Illinois.

The emergency room benefit is another benefit that sets BCBSIL from most of the competition, no copay, and no deductible, you have to like that.

BCBSIL plans are available at www.medequote.com

BCBSIL HSA Fact's and Advantages

Freedom of Choice—Without ReferralsBlueEdge Individual HSA and BlueEdge Individual HSA 5000 provide access to one of the largest networks of doctors and hospitals in Illinois. In fact, with 90 percent of Illinois doctors included—and more than 200 hospitals—it’s likely that your clients’ current health care providers participate.

Coverage Away From HomeYour clients will have access to a program called BlueCard PPO. This is a nationwide network of doctors and hospitals that allows them to receive benefits for covered services when they travel. They simply present their BCBSIL ID card to a participating BlueCard PPO provider wherever they are.

Guaranteed RenewabilityIndividual and family coverage are guaranteed renewable. This means that as long as your clients’ premiums are paid on time, their coverage can be non-renewed only for the following reasons: (1) fraud or an intentional material misrepresentation, or (2) all policies bearing your policy’s form number are non-renewed.

Members First®’Discount ProgramMembers First®’ can save your clients hundred of dollars a year on products and services they use every day. They’ll save on dental, vision, hearing and chiropractic care services. They’ll even receive discounts on vitamins and nutritional supplements through mail order. Because this isn’t insurance, there are no deductibles, no dollar maximum limits and no claim forms to fill out. Using this program costs your clients nothing extra. It’s just our way of saying “thank you” for being a member.

The Dental Program saves members as much as 50 percent on routine and preventive dental services when they go to one of the many participating providers throughout the entire U.S.—more than 15,000 nationwide. They’ll even receive their discount at the time of service.

The Vision Program guarantees savings of as much as 50 percent on eyeglasses and contact lenses at more than 9,000 eye care professionals nationwide, including major retailers such as LensCrafters, Sears, JCPenney and Pearle Vision.

The Hearing Program provides savings on hearing aids and a variety of other products and services from the largest network of audiologists. Members receive a discount of as much as 20 percent on conventional hearing aids.

The Chiropractic Program emphasizes wellness and preventive health care at special rates from participating providers. The initial exam is just $35, and there’s no limit on the number of visits. Go to the chiropractor as often as you need for immediate savings of as much as 40 percent off chiropractic care.

The Vitamin Program offers a variety of vitamins and nutritional supplements at savings of 25–50 percent off already low catalog prices.

Stop by www.medequote.com to get more information on BCBSIL health plans.

BCBSIL and Medicare modernization

The most dramatic and innovative change to the Medicare program since its birth in 1965 can be found in the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). It includes new prescription drug benefits (Part D), new and improved preventive benefits, and Medicare advantage. Highlights of the new program are flexible eligibility, greater choices, open enrollment, enhanced benefits, and help for those with limited income and resources. MMA is available for all people with Medicare Parts A and/or B and may be provided through prescription drug plans (PDPs), Medicare Advantage Plans (MA-PDs), and some employers and unions to their retirees.

For more information on BCBSIL MediCare Supplement programs stop by www.medequote.com we feel BCBSIL is the premier provider of Senior health insurance products in Illinois.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, BCBSIL has a wide variety of Illinois health insurance plans.

The BCBS Select Blue health insurance plans are very benefit rich, especially in deductibles of under $1000.

Select Blue Advantage is the same thing with higher copays.

Select Blue Choice is an option that has a more limited choice of providers which works best in well populated areas such as Chicago.

Traditonal Blue is the BCBSIL Indemnity or traditional plan. No networks, use any provider you choose.

Basic Blue is your basic low cost coverage for when you are on a tight budget but want a Blue Cross of Illinois Health Plan.

The HSA qualified plans are a new addtion to the BCBSIL lineup.

Select Blue Plan - Select Blue is comprehensive health insurance and includes doctor office visit co-pays ($20), an Rx prescription drug card (for deductibles $0-$500), and adult & child wellness. 100% and 80% coverage levels are available.

Other Select Blue Plans:

Select Blue Advantage - the same as the Select Blue plan except with slightly higher co-payments but with lower premiums.

Select Blue Choice - the same as the Blue Value Advantage plan except with a more limited choice of network hospitals and with lower premiums.

Traditional Blue - Traditional Blue is comprehensive health insurance, similar to Blue Value.Note: Traditional Blue is recommended for those persons living in Illinois, but use doctors in adjoining states (e.g. Indiana, Wisconsin), where the hospitals take Blue Cross of Illinois, but the doctors may not. With Traditional Blue you can use any doctor.

Basic Blue - Basic Blue is a low cost hospital, surgical plan with emergency room and accident coverage. Doctor visits, Rx drugs, and wellness benefits are not covered and there are very limited outpatient benefits.

High-Deductible HSA - Compatible PlanThe HSA Plan is a tax advantaged high deductible plan designed for individuals and families. The HSA has two components: (1) A qualified high deductible health insurance policy. (2) A medical savings account with tax advantages; the savings account can be used to pay for most medical expenses on a tax-free basis. Medical coverage is paid at 80% or 100% after your deductible.

For information on BCBSIL health plans please visit www.medequote.com, or www.medequote.net

BCBSIL Blog

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. This blog is devoted to discussing, and answering questions about BCBSIL health insurance programs. We are licensed BCBSIL agent so we understand how the product works and how it compares to other health plans in the marketplace. Each day we will be bringing up a different BCBSIL product and explaining the benefits of the program. We will also pass along any press release that come out. Feel free to join a topic and ask a question. BCBSIL health plans are available at www.medequote.com, and www.medequote.net.

If you are a Illinois resident shopping for health insurance this is a great spot to stop by and get information, get questions answered, and of course apply for a health plan.