Many overlook the fact that children can get sick from germs in the water of pools, lakes, and water parks. Consider a few easy steps that can help keep your children as well as everyone else — safe while swimming.
One danger when swimming is that water can be contaminated with germs that can cause recreational water illnesses (RWIs), including: (more…)
With our fast paced lives, it is hard to find the time to enjoy the outdoors with your family. Have you ever thought about setting aside one evening each week as family time? We are all faced with finding a good balance between work and family. Setting aside one night per week as “family time” is the beginning to a healthy lifestyle for your family. Experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of outdoor play each day. Below are some activities for families of all ages to enjoy.
DISCOVER THE WILDERNESS: Take your family on a walk through your neighborhood or backyard and look at nature’s beauty. Try to keep a nature journal and post pictures of different creatures you encounter. (more…)
Why are medical costs up?
BCBSNC is seeing recent increases in medical costs for several reasons. We waived copays on generic drugs from January through June 2009 in an effort to encourage our customers to use generics where appropriate to reduce medical costs. Other factors include: H1N1 and the seasonal flu, as well as impacts from COBRA and the aging of groups (where layoffs are newer employees.) (Note: This finding is similar to recent announcements by our competitors.) The use of generic prescriptions went up nearly 2 percentage points from December 2008 to December 2009 to 68 percent.
We believe the copay waiver is an investment in improving health by making it possible for people to keep taking their medicine even in a down economy if costs are lower. The 2009 generic copay waiver program applied to nearly 1 million BCBSNC customers and eliminated customer copays for covered generic drugs.
Save with generic drugs, they are the same as brand name drugs in dosage, safety, active ingredients, and quality. Generic co-pays are usually lower too.
When a pharmaceutical company develops a new drug, it gets a patent that allows it to be the only seller of that drug. When the patent expires, other companies can offer medications with the same active ingredient which are referred to as generic drugs, and they are generally less expensive, they could be as much as 75% percent less than their brand name equivalents.
Generic drugs are approved by the FDA, and are identical to brand name drugs in terms of quality. Generic drugs also have active drug ingredients that are identical to their brand name equivalents. In fact, the FDA reviews data showing the drug is bioequivalent to the brand name drug, monitors manufacturing practices of the drug, and reviews the active and inactive ingredients used in the drug before it is marketed. (more…)
For the last year, the nation’s attention has been fixed on reforming our healthcare system. On behalf of our nearly 100 million members, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to working with the Administration and all other parties to implement this new law.
As we have done throughout our 80-year history, we will continue to help people navigate the healthcare system, especially at this time when many people are confused and unsure of what reform means to them. Being a part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield family is about so much more than a simple membership card. It is a commitment to service excellence regardless of where you live or what kind of health plan you have. It is financial security in times of healthcare necessity. It is investments in the communities where you live, work and play. (more…)
Chances are your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina prescription drug benefit is provided through Medco, Inc. If so, you may want to take advantage of the services offered by Medco’s mail order pharmacy (Medco By Mail). Note: not all members have access to Medco’s Medco By Mail. One way to check is to look for “Paid BNCDRUG” listed on your ID card next to “Rx Service:”.
You can use Medco’s Medco By Mail two ways:
Call at 1-800-711-0926
Visit the Web site:Medco.com
Phone and Online:
Order refills, Renew prescriptions Check order status , Check mail order account status, Request mail order forms and envelopes, View prescription claims history (local and mail order)Prescription drug pricing and coverage information, Find a participating pharmacy (NC and nationwide), View summary of prescription drug benefit, Find health and wellness articles Drug information
Registration and Login for Medco.comTM
To access the above features online at Medco.com, you will first need to register and login using a login and password that you choose. The registration process will ask you for your member ID which can be found on your Blue Cross and Blue Shield ID card (enter the last 9 digits beginning with the W). Medco.com offers the following services:
Mail order transactions
Order refills. Renew prescriptions. Check your order status. Check your account status. Now you can do all these things online through Medco.com. It’s a simple way to conduct all your mail order business with Medco’s Medco By Mail.
View your prescription claims history
Need an easy way to keep track of all your prescriptions for tax purposes? Whatever your reason, now you can view your prescription claims history online. You’ll be able to review them through both your local retail pharmacies or Medco’s Medco By Mail.
MYTH: Most Americans support the idea of a government-run health insurance plan.
FACT: There is simply no consensus. Where the majority stands on this issue depends considerably on how the question is phrased. If a public option is couched as simply another choice — one independent of the options they have now — of course most people say they’re for it. But when more detail is provided in evaluating the concept, opinions tend to be more negative.
For example, while a Washington Post/ABC News poll[1] did find that 57 percent of respondents supported a public option (versus 40 percent opposed), an NBC/WSJ poll[2] found that 48 percent of respondents felt a public option would “reduce access to their choice of doctors and would lower costs by limiting medical treatment options,” versus 45 percent that believed it would “help lower health care costs and provide coverage for uninsured Americans.”
Other recent polls indicate public skepticism about the direction of current health care reform proposals – particularly as they relate to a government-run health plan and health coverage costs. An October Wall Street Journal/NBC poll found that significantly more Americans think health care costs will increase under reform (47 percent) than believe reform will reduce costs (13 percent). Around the same time, a poll of likely voters conducted for the Civitas Organization[3] found North Carolinians deeply divided on this issue, with 49.3 percent of voters saying they disapprove of the health care plan being proposed by President Obama and Congress and 40.3 percent supporting it.
MYTH: Proposed health reform legislation will not tax the middle-class.
FACT: The Senate health reform bill includes indirect taxes on health care consumers, in the form of $11 billion in taxes on health insurers, drug companies and medical equipment manufacturers. Consumers will pay those costs in higher premiums. Some middle-class consumers could also see their cost impacted by the Senate’s 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac Plans.”
If cost is the number one problem in health care, then reining in costs should be the number one priority in health care reform. New taxes and fees will increase costs for those who already have coverage.
Mission Statement:Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leading health services company. We deliver quality products, information, and services to help our customers improve their health and well-being.
History and Facts:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. The company offers its members discounts and information on a wide variety of health-related services at no additional cost. BCBSNC also offers dental and disability insurance products. For 75 years, the company has served its customers by offering access to quality health care at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health.
*The content of this post is provided by BCBSNC.
For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.
Pharmacists in North Carolina have been granted temporary authority to administer seasonal and H1N1 flu shots to patients 14 years of age and older beginning October 9, 2009.
The Pharmacy and Medical Boards passed an emergency amendment to the pharmacist vaccination rule authorizing pharmacists to administer seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines to patients age 14 and up. This authorization is expected to extend through July 2010.
Eligible members ages 14 and older may go to an in-network pharmacist or CVS MinuteClinic to receive a seasonal flu shot, as well as an H1N1 vaccine – when it becomes available.
To find in-network pharmacists, visit the Doctors, Rx and Hospitals section on our site, and search for “Pharmacist (Flu & Other Limited Injections)” under Specialty. To find a participating CVS MinuteClinic, search for “Convenience Care Center” under Specialty.
The above information is taken from a News Release from BCBSNC October 2009.
For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina and how to utilize My Member Services, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.
H1N1 Prevention, Symptoms and Treatment
Flu season is likely to start earlier and be more widespread this year. The 2009 H1N1influenza virus that triggered the April 2009 outbreak and caused only mild illness will likely be the major strain. Standard strains of the flu will also be circulating, and there is a chance that the flu (seasonal and 2009 H1N1) could cause more severe illness.
Flu symptoms include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. Symptoms may alsoinclude runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. It is hard to tell if someone who is sick has the 2009 H1N1 flu or seasonal flu.
Prevention will play a very key role this year. Prevention includes protecting yourself
and NOT spreading the disease to others. Here’s what you should do:
Prevent:
· A cough or sneeze may be the first symptom of illness. Therefore, every
time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and throw
used tissues in the trash.
· If you develop flu symptoms, make arrangements to go home as soon as
possible.
· Stay home until at least 24 hours after you no longer have fever (100
degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very
warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). Checking for absence of a
fever should be determined without the use of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
If you have a child, you’ve probably heard those familiar words, “Can we keep him?” Dog’s aren’t just a man’s best friend anymore; they’ve become the whole family’s friend. If you’re like any typical family, the children will probably spend the most time with your new dog. This is why it’s very important you teach your child how to take care of him. Here are a few dog rules to teach them:
1. Make sure you remember to feed the dog and give him fresh water each day. Explain that dogs, especially puppies, need nutrition each day for energy and proper growth. If you have an outside dog, it’s especially important that his water dish is changed everyday. Standing water is a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also dirt can get flung into their dish. It is equally important for small children to be supervised when dealing with this type of responsibility. Sometimes smaller children can be too eager to help. Explain to your children why we don’t feed dog’s certain foods such as sweets. Dog food is made to meet their dog’s nutritional needs and sweets can make their dog sick.
Effective October 1, 2009, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is revising our upfront member collection policy for members who have Blue Options HSA, Blue Options HRA and any Blue Options non-copayment plans.
Beginning October 1, 2009, for Blue Options HSA and Blue Options HRASM, as well as any Blue Options non-copayment plans, providers are no longer limited to collecting up to $50 for an office visit or up to $500 for services received at a facility. Providers may now collect the member liability based on the benefits of the member’s specific plan and the provider’s current fee schedules for elective or scheduled care.
Why are we making this change?
Collecting the patient’s share of the bill has become increasingly important in recent years as more cost has shifted to members. For the products designated above, many patients have higher deductibles than in the past and also pay a percentage of the remaining bill. This change to our collection policy allows us to leverage our technology and partner with our providers to reduce the administrative expenses that can add to the total cost of health care.
What’s required of the providers?
If a provider office maintains a policy to collect the estimated patient financial responsibility at the time of service, they are required to:
• Collect only according to negotiated network fee schedules in place at the time of service.
• Collect only an amount determined to be accurate with reasonable certainty through validation using BCBSNC provider tools.
• Refund any overpayment owed to the member as soon as identified, but no more than 45 days after they receive our payment for the service in question.
What does this mean for copayment plans?
Blue Care®, Blue Options, Blue Advantage®, and State Health Plan members should expect to pay their applicable copayment for office services as usual. When deductible and/or coinsurance apply, providers can use the above guidelines to request member liability prior to treatment.
Does this apply to emergency and urgent care?
For emergency services, providers cannot require any upfront payment from the member until the provider receives the BCBSNC Explanation of Payment (EOP).
For urgent care services, providers can use the above guidelines to require payment of member liability at time of service or after treatment.
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