Newsletter

Blue Cross/Blue Shield: Not Your Mother's Insurance Company

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas, which administers the UT Select Medical Plan, is more than just a processor of insurance claims. If your only contact with Blue Cross/Blue Shield is through the Explanation of Benefits forms received after a doctor or hospital visit you are not getting your money's worth (or UT's) out of your membership.

In her talk to the Health Interest Group last May, Nicki Reed, from the Dallas headquarters of BCBSTX, explained that a primary goal the company is to help subscribers stay healthy and to provide support and knowledge to help them cope with existing medical concerns.

Ms Reed went on to elaborate on the wide array of information available to subscribers on the BCBSTX web pages.  This knowledge ranges from basic information about current coverage to information about managing health care, evaluation of doctors and hospitals, discount offers for health products and services and guidance for stress management, losing weight and quitting smoking.

Lost your ID card? Print a temporary one off the web and request a new card.  Find out about the status of current claims, details of present coverage and see a history of your claims for the last 18 months, (helpful at income tax time). There is even an explanation of the Explanation of Benefits form. 

The reimbursement difference between network providers and out-of-network providers is discussed, as well as directions for getting medical care out of the area or even out of the country.

Need help finding a doctor or choosing a hospital?  That information is there, along with a rating of the doctor's performance.  Furthermore when your physician recommends a surgical treatment you can find an evaluation of a hospital's previous outcome history for that procedure based on such factors as mortality, length of stay, complications, number of procedures performed and cost.

But a major thrust of Blue Cross/Blue Shield these days centers on wellness and preventive measures. Through its Personal Health Manager Program, BC/BS makes available a multi-disciplinary team composed of registered nurses, licensed professional counselors and licensed masters level social workers to help its individual subscribers achieve better health.

Among its offerings are voluntary health improvement programs to help members better manage chronic conditions such as cancer, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity and low back pain.

Want to lose weight?  Take advantage of the interactive tools on the web site to take a health risk assessment, and get real-time guidance tailored to your individual profile about the proper nutrition and physical activity needed to lose weight and keep it off.

Want to stop smoking? Enroll in BC/BS smoking cessation program for help in understanding barriers to stopping smoking and for support and ongoing motivation.

Need answers to a specific health question? E-mail "Ask a Dietitian", for questions about nutrition, "Ask a Nurse" for health-related questions, "Ask a Trainer" for advice about exercise and fitness help, and "Ask a Life Coach" for tips on managing stress and other life problems.  A credentialed professional will e-mail a response within one business

If you want immediate assistance, call the 24/7 Nurseline at 1-888-315-9473.  A registered nurse is available around the clock to answer specific inquiries about health concerns.  The same phone number gives access to an audio library discussing 1,2000 medical subjects.

There is also an opportunity to set up reminders for medical appointments and medication refills.

To encourage members to take advantage of its health and wellness features BCBSTX has set up a points system whereby one can receive up to 1,000 points a week for enrolling in and tracking the progress of an exercise or meal program. Points can be redeemed for health-related products.

Furthermore, members can receive discounts on various health care services and products such as Jenny Craig, Curves, TruHearing for digital hearing aids, Davis Vision for eyeglasses, contact lenses and other ophthalmologic services. plus a number of alternative medicine practitioners, spas, and fitness centers. Simply show your BCBSTX/UT Select Card to receive a discount. Discounts are also available online for many vitamins, herbal supplements and health and wellness magazines.

For information about these programs and more go to www.BCBSTX.com/ut.  Those without a computer can call customer service at 1-866-882-2034 for help.

As Rolando Roman, UT System Wellness Program Coordinator, who also spoke at the meeting said,  "UT Select is committed to providing the tools and resources to help you to take responsibility for your own health and well-being."