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 LAUNCHES NEW SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACE PROGRAM ON NATIONAL GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT DAY

Blue Cross’ Work force Will go Smoke-Free to Celebrate the Benefits of Improved working conditions and Personal Wellness on November 16, 2006.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas announced that it will officially launch it’s new Smoke-Free Workplace Initiative on November 16 to coincide with the 2006 Great American Smokeout. The initiative, which will affect about 20% of employees, was designed to establish 100 percent smoke-free working conditions at all HCSC facilities (Health Care Service Corporation includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Illinois, New Mexico and Oklahoma). The policy applies to employees, visitors, contractors, vendors or anyone at a Blue Cross property.

Studies have found that tobacco smoke is the cause of about 30 percent of all cancer deaths and nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases. In addition, studies have shown that breathing second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer, stroke and heart and respiratory diseases.

“We now know that there is overwhelming evidence about the adverse effects of smoking on both smokers and non-smokers,” says Dr. Paul Handel, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, “so we felt it was critical to advance our policy to the next level this year. The new policy supports our vision to build on our high-performing, values-based, healthy work force, which includes providing a safe, comfortable and productive work environment for our employees.”

The change means that in addition to the current Blue Cross smoking policy, which does not permit smoking inside BCBSTX offices, use of tobacco products will not be permitted on or in any area of the property, including offices, patios, parking lots and garages and company-owned vehicles.

For employees who wish to stop smoking, Blue Cross has provided information on numerous smoking cessation resources, plus the company will subsidize several smoking cessation programs, not only for employees, but for their covered dependents as well. Seven months prior to the deadline, Blue Cross employees who are smokers were given advance notice in order to facilitate a smooth transition to a smoke free workplace. Employees and dependents who do not use tobacco products will also be eligible for a lower health coverage rate, effective January 2008.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, non-investor-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 40,000 physicians and 400 hospitals to serve 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.