We're all aware of the issues surrounding our industry: rapidly increasing health care costs, pending and passed legislation, chronically negative media attention.

Despite these challenges, one company still maintains a solid position in the marketplace, retains the financial stability an employer can trust, the security a member needs, and the innovation to succeed in the future.

That company is Blue Cross of California.

(Note: Various products are provided by Blue Cross of California’s affiliate, BC Life & Health Insurance Company. Blue Cross of California provides administrative services to BC Life & Health.)

Blue Cross of California offers employers the strategic advantages of a brand name with national and global recognition. Since 1937, our members have been able to rely on the consistent coverage and quality support that we provide. This is The Power of Blue^SM.

Blue Cross of California offers you and your clients a partner that is financially sound. So sound, in fact, that Fortune magazine named our parent company the Most Admired Health Care Company for an unprecedented five consecutive years, 1998-2002!

And because our underwriting methodologies are consistent, sound and, for groups of 125+, based on case experience, both you and your clients can expect competitive and predictable quotes on our quality plans, year after year. No surprises. Because maintaining strong and stable, long-term partnerships is a formula for success.

At Blue Cross, we focus on providing convenience and choice to our members:

• Our HMO plans offer members and their primary care physicians the convenience of our ReadyAccess^SM program, with PCP Speedy Referral to 15 specialist disciplines, and Direct Access (self-referral) to participating allergists, dermatologists and ENTs.
• Our PPO plans offer members the freedom to choose from over 45,000 health professionals and 400 hospitals in our Prudent Buyer network. All with the competitive discounts that translate into lower member out-of-pocket costs.
• Our POS plans offer the convenience and choice of both PPO and HMO plans!

Our standard HMO, PPO and POS products offer employers greater flexibility as well:

• Our HMO, PPO and POS plans are tailored to each market segment, with a host of affordable products for the mid-level market of 51-125 employees, and flexible offerings for groups of 126 or more.
• Our HMO plans can include integrated behavioral health and substance abuse benefits and/or alternative health care riders upon demand.
• Our wide variety of life, behavioral health and specialty products allow you to offer your clients the savings and administrative simplification of a more comprehensive benefits package.

We invite you to review our portfolio of standard plans. Just click on "Products" in the left-hand navigation.

Have you taken a look at our Power Suite of products? Our Power Suite is redefining our industry by putting consumers in greater control over their health care options. From defined contribution plans, to plans that combine PPO flexibility with HMO care management, to plans that offer the tools and incentive to promote the research of quality and cost. The ultimate goal is to bring employers and employees together as partners in managing health care costs, to meet the challenges of today's health care environment.

We believe that quality health coverage does not begin and end with premiums and claims payments, but encompasses so much more. From the Health Coaching model of our Heath Improvement Programs to the success of our quality improvement initiatives, we are proud of the steps we have made in maintaining the high levels of quality and access to care for our members.

But don't just take our word for it. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded Blue Cross HMO/POS products Excellent Accreditation and PPO products Full Accreditation. Excellent and Full Accreditation are the highest ratings possible for the respective products.

To learn more about our quality improvement initiatives, click on "Focus on Quality" to the left.

To learn about the additional value-added services designed to bring even greater value to our members, click on "Enhanced Member Services" to the left.

With Blue Cross, your clients can expect the utmost in support even before their open enrollment period begins. To find out more, click on "Transition With Ease" in the left-hand navigation.

Keep browsing through each of the links mentioned above to learn more about what makes Blue Cross of California stand apart from the crowd. Or contact your local Blue Cross sales office (contact information can be found by clicking on "Sales Offices" to the left). See how you'll benefit with The Power of Blue!