August 20, 2008 

HOSP-08-10

Cooperation makes low-cost insurance available to 330 Kansans

It has been more than two years since Value Blue, a low-cost health insurance plan for income-eligible, uninsured Kansans, came to the market thanks to the cooperation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and our contracting providers. Value Blue has been endorsed by the Kansas Insurance Commissioner, Kansas Hospital Association and Kansas Medical Society as a private sector solution to the growing number of uninsured.

As of the end of June, 330 Kansans who were previously uninsured are now covered by Value Blue. On behalf of these Kansans, we would like to say "thank you" to those contracting providers who have agreed to accept 50 percent of our maximum allowable payments for this program and who have welcomed Value Blue members.

“All Kansans deserve to have access to affordable health insurance and, through that access, the health care services they need to live long, happy and healthy lives,” said Graham Bailey, vice president of corporate communications and public relations. "Value Blue is a community-oriented program that puts affordable health insurance into the hands of those who, without it, would be uninsured. We all recognize that those without health insurance often delay seeking medical help and, when they do, the cost of those services are absorbed by hospitals, providers and those with insurance.

"We appreciate the cooperation we've received from Kansas providers to make Value Blue possible," he said.

For its part, BCBSKS will continue to administer and promote Value Blue without calculating an administrative cost into the premiums.

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