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 Offers Tips
For Choosing a Health Plan during Open Enrollment

Millions of Texans will choose their 2007 health plan this fall; BCBSTX urges employees to consider options carefully

(Richardson,Texas) –October 13, 2006– This fall, millions of Texas residents will make a potentially complex and difficult choice when they select health insurance coverage for themselves and their families during open enrollment.

Open enrollment is a critical time of the year for people with employer-based coverage because choices made during this fall period will have a direct impact on health insurance coverage for millions of Texans.  With that in mind, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is urging those considering their health insurance options to choose carefully, and to evaluate their health care coverage in four areas before selecting a health plan:

1. Take the time to review your past health care experiences
2. Estimate your health care needs for the coming year
3. Consider the size and type of physician and hospital network you want, and
4. Examine all the costs involved in your health care—not just the monthly premiums—and know what your plan covers.

"Families should review the health care plans they have selected over the last year and assess how they have fared, said Paul Handel, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. "By identifying what you liked and what was not a good fit, anyone can easily determine whether their current plan covered the medical needs and the level of customer support required by the entire family."

The next step is for  employees to look at what their future health care needs might be by thinking about what has changed for the family in the past year, or what changes they can foresee in the next year.  For example, a few questions each employee should ask include,  have you developed a chronic condition that will require more doctor visits or prescription medications or are you having a baby next year?  These types of events can have a dramatic impact on health care needs and costs going forward.

Once employees have assessed their health care experiences and needs, they should evaluate a plan’s physician and hospital networks.  The key is to find an insurance plan that has a physician and hospital network that meets your health care needs.  Do you prefer an HMO or a PPO?  Do you want the option of going to a large network of doctors, specialists and hospitals?  How do you feel about getting referrals to see specialists?

"Also, make certain you know which doctors and hospitals are in a health plan’s network before you sign up,"says Dr. Handel, "particularly if you want to go to a specific doctor, specialist or hospital.  Choosing a health plan is a decision that should be made after careful consideration and evaluation.  So take the time to be a well informed health care consumer."

Lastly, employees need to consider the big picture, especially in terms of costs before deciding which plan is right for them, and not automatically sign up for the plan with the lowest monthly premium.  Knowing how much was spent on their health care in the last year—including premiums, co-pays for physicians, hospital stays and prescription drugs.  What are the plan’s co-pays for office visits, hospital visits and prescription drugs?  What type of coverage is offered for ‘out-of-network’ care?  What is the out-of-pocket maximum for each plan?  Is there a maximum benefit?  Once employees know the answers to these questions, they will be better prepared to find the health plan that’s right for their families.

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.