FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
Contact:  
Margaret Jarvis
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
972-766-7165
or margaret_jarvis@bcbstx.com

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TAPPED BY CITY OF MCALLEN TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

     McAllen, TX, September 27, 2006 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas announced today that it has been selected to administer the PPO  health benefits plan for the City of McAllen, effective October 1, 2006.  Following a competitive bidding process, Blue Cross was awarded a one-year contract, covering more than 1,600 employees and their dependents.

   "We are pleased that the City of McAllen's Council has elected to establish a working relationship with Blue Cross that will benefit the city and its employees," says Jeff Jacobi, director of Sales, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  "We look forward to providing this valuable, new client with access to affordable, quality health care and top-notch service."

   Blue Cross will offer the City of McAllen members access to a portfolio of medical care management solutions,  investments in state-of-the-art claims processing systems and broad access to affordable care.  As the largest health plan in the state, Blue Cross' PPO/POS network consisting of over 38,000 physicians and other professional providers at over 400 hospitals, will be available to City of McAllen employees, retirees and their dependents.

   Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the only statewide, non-investor owned health coverage provider in Texas, serving more than 3.3 million members in all 254 counties.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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