Blue Care Network’s Healthy Blue Living(SM) Wellness Product Sees Surge in Enrollment
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 25 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Care Network of Michigan’s innovative wellness product, which rewards individuals for committing to healthy lifestyles, has surged in enrollment, climbing from zero to 46,000 members over the last nine months.
Blue Care Network is the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
More than 200 businesses or groups now have Healthy Blue Living(SM), which first began enrolling members last October. The groups range in size from small businesses with two employees to large businesses like Ford Motor Company.
“Judging by the enthusiastic response to Healthy Blue Living, many employers are eager for a product that emphasizes wellness and employee accountability,” said Jeanne Carlson, BCN president and chief executive officer. “This tremendous momentum has exceeded our expectations.”
BCN’s Healthy Blue Living was first-to-market in Michigan with a product structure that encourages employees and their spouses to commit to healthy lifestyles with support from their primary care physicians and Blue Care Network. In addition to better health, the rewards for that commitment are lower copayments and deductibles for members. The target for savings to employers is an average 10 percent over a HMO product without the unique structure.
One reason for Healthy Blue Living’s success, said Carlson, is that Blue Care Network used feedback from the business community in its design.
“Blue Care Network worked with the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders across the state to develop Healthy Blue Living,” said Carlson. “We found overwhelming interest for a product that had wellness as part of the equation and provided employees incentives for healthy behaviors.”
Not surprisingly, one of the first groups to enroll was a medical group. Medical Network One is a physician services provider and interactive health organization developing and administering wellness, healthy lifestyles and active care plans for the management of patients with chronic illness.
“Physicians at Medical Network One and Healthy Blue Living share a common goal of promoting wellness and care management, so it was a good fit for us,” said Eva M. Matuszewski, CEO of Medical Network One, which is headquartered in Rochester, Mich.
All employees with Healthy Blue Living coverage initially receive the enhanced benefit package. It is the same as the product’s standard benefit package, but offers lower copayments and deductibles. However, to retain the enhanced benefits, the employee and his or her spouse must complete a health risk appraisal and Healthy Blue Living member qualification form during the first 90 days of coverage. For employees whose coverage took effect last October, 60 percent have retained the enhanced benefits while 40 percent have the standard benefits.
The member completes a qualification form with his or her primary care physician. Points are given for favorable results or behaviors in six categories: alcohol use, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, smoking status and weight. The six were selected because they are the leading causes of chronic illness and represent health conditions that can be controlled with proper treatment.
Eighty or more points qualify a person for enhanced benefits. Medical conditions or unhealthy behaviors do not automatically preclude people from qualifying for enhanced benefits, provided they commit to and follow their physician’s recommended treatment plan.
Members with Healthy Blue Living coverage have access to care management programs and services. These include free smoking cessation and weight loss programs, and free award-winning programs that focus on health education and BlueHealthConnection(SM) programs that assist with chronic conditions. Experienced health coaches also are available to work with at-risk members on an individual basis to help them manage specific health issues.
Employers that select Healthy Blue Living conduct or promote wellness activities at work, such as offering healthy food choices in vending machines and cafeterias or providing on-site weight management or exercise classes. BCN provides a menu of wellness activities, and employers may select ones that are most suitable for their workplaces.
Positive response to the Healthy Blue Living HMO product encouraged Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to launch an innovative wellness product for the PPO market. The new PPO wellness product, Healthy Blue Incentives(SM), was announced by Blue Cross Blue Shield on May 30 and will be offered in July 2007 to self-funded customer groups with 50 or more employees.
Blue Care Network of Michigan is the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For further information, visit http://www.mibcn.com/.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Blue Care Network
CONTACT: Helen Stojic of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and BlueCare Network, +1-313-225-8113, mediarelations@bcbsm.com
Web site: http://www.bcbsm.com/http://www.mibcn.com/