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Blue Shield Health Insurance is offered by the Blue Shield Association, a trade association operating at the national level linking 38 independent regional health insurance companies in the US. It was established during 1982 and is currently based in Chicago following the merger of Blue Cross Association and the National Association of Blue Shield Plans. The fruition of managed healthcare plans in the US is closely associated with that of Blue Cross- Blue Shield Plans.

Blue Shield Insurance companies are franchisees presenting insurance plans within distinct provinces under one or both of the associations brands. Blue Shield insurance offers some types of health insurance coverage in almost every state in America. Besides, they also function as administrators of Medicare in a lot of states within U.S. as also offering group insurance plans to state government officers as also the U.S. Federal government. There is a healthy linkage between the Blue Shield systems and the health insurance policy-makers at the higher echelons of power in the United States.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Plans (BCBS) stands for security and peace of mind across US. BCBS forms the countrys largest conglomerate of health benefits companies together caring for 84.7 million insured perople. The Blue System is a group of 42 independent plans that are operated locally but linked through membership in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). The Blue Cross Association and its Member Plans are committed to establish significant changes and development to the U.S. healthcare financing and delivery systems.

Scope of coverage:

Blue Shield Insurance Plans give health insurance coverage in all the 50 US states. Every segment of the population are covered in its ambit inclusive of large employer coverage, small business coverage as also individual health coverage intended for those families without access to group health insurance. In excess of 80% of the U.S. hospitals and almost 90% of the U.S. doctors accept Blue Shield Insurance health insurance cards. Besides, more than 75% of the Fortune 100 companies and 50% of all Fortune 500 companies extend Blue Shield health insurance coverage to their employees. Noted Blue corporate customers comprise of AT & T, Boeing, United Airlines and Wal-Mart.

Benefits offered:

Blue Shield Insurance is a reputed company offering health insurance plans suitable for every budget and need. One can buy either a group or an individual insurance policy from the insurance agents or from online vendors like www.ehealthinsurance.com or www.medhealthinsurance.com It can also be purchased directly from the Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance website which is bcbs.com. The insurance plans can be tailored according to the needs of everybody, inclusive of individuals, family and group. Besides, more plans are available for elderly people to supplement medical care coverage. A lot of different plans are available that differ in deductibles, co-payments and out of pocket expenses. Maximum lifetime benefits might also be different. A lot of options are available depending on if the Plan is Health Maintenance Organization, Preferred Provider Organization or Point of Service Plan.

Plans offered by Blue Shield Health Insurance

(i) Blue Preferred: It is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan covering office visits to majority of the PPO doctors along with a copay. The various benefits include:

(a) There are choice of five deductibles ranging from $250, $500 $1000, $2500 and $5000

(b) Choosing PPO entails lower out-of-pocket expenses

(c) Flexibility in the use of out-of-network providers in case of most services

(d) Benefit of getting preventive care benefits from PPO providers, deductible waived

(ii) Blue Preferred Saver

This is a highly deductible PPO plan which fulfills the federal requirements for use tagged with a health savings account (HSA). Deductible is applicable in case of all covered services with the exception of preventive care. The various benefits available under the plan include:

(a) Option of three deductibles: $1,500, $ 2,600 and $5,000.

(b) Less out-of-pocket expenses while using PPO providers

(c) Availability of flexibility to use out-of-network providers for majority of services

(d) Waiver of deductible and availability of preventive care benefits

(iii) Blue Classic

It is an indemnity plan equipped with minimal network restrictions as regards to providers. The various benefits offered are:

(a) Availability of choice of as many as six annual deductibles i.e. $250, $500, $750, $1,250, $2,500 and $5,000.

(b) Freedom to use non-contracted providers

(c) The various participating providers are present outside Arizona through the BlueCard program

(d) Preventive care benefits are subject to deductible and coinsurance

(iv) Blue Select

Blue Select is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan. Copayments are needed for most of the covered services. The various benefits available are :

(a) Coverage of maternity services following a 12-month waiting period

(b) All services that are covered, must be provided by BlueSelect network providers leaving aside emergencies or accident.

(c) Availability of urgent care services and authorized follow-up care across most of U.S. with Blue Card access.

(d) Availability of preventive care benefits from network providers.

The facilities that are common to all Blue Shield Health Insurance plans are

(i) visits to the doctors office

(ii) hospital benefits

(iii) prescription medications

(iv) chiropractic benefits

(v) regular physical examination and preventive screenings

(vi) Well-child care and regular immunizations.

Choosing a suitable Plan:

Three types of contracted healthcare providers in which one can save money are BluePreferred, BlueSelect and Participating. Generally one can save the maximum with BluePreferred and BlueSelect. In most of the areas, BluePreferred Basic charges the lowest premiums. BluePreferred Basic is the lower premium high-deductible PPO plan having co-payment for primary care office visits and urgent care. In order to find out the best possible plan, one has to keep in mind the frequency of visits to the doctor and the eagerness to use Preferred providers. Besides, considering a higher deductible plan is the best plan. By choosing either the Blue Preferred or Blue Classic, one can keep the monthly premiums lower if selecting a higher deductible. BluePreferred Saver PPO and BlueClassic Saver indemnity are both high-deductible Plans which fulfill federal needs for use with a health savings account (HSA).

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