Blue Cross of Washington
some years back changed
its name to Premera
Blue Cross. In
some states, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
insurance plans are one
and the same such as in
Oregon where the Blue
Cross member is called
Regence Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Oregon. In
Washington State,
Premera Blue Cross and
Regence Blue Shield are
competitors.
Premera
Blue Cross of Washington is the second leading
insurance carrier in
terms of number of
members in the state.
Premera Blue Cross has
available individual
health,family health,
group health, group
dental, group life,
medicare supplement,
prescription plans
vision plans, and even
mental health plans.
news item
March 27, 2008
CHICAGO –
The Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association (BCBSA)
today released the 2008
Medical Cost Reference
Guide (MCRG), an annual
publication that
examines national trends
impacting healthcare
costs, quality and
access. The MCRG
provides objective
information using
research available from
BCBSA and leading
government, academic,
and business sources.
"This year's guide
provides a snapshot of
major trends affecting
healthcare quality and
affordability in our
nation," said Scott P.
Serota, president and
chief executive officer
of BCBSA. "With all the
challenges facing our
healthcare system today,
this guide helps provide
timely and relevant
knowledge to create a
system that is more
affordable, effective
and accessible to
everyone."
This year's publication
covers topics such as
international and
national health
spending, trends in
health insurance
coverage, the uninsured,
consumer healthcare
costs, prescription drug
spending, and chronic
illness.
The guide is organized
into five key areas:
Healthcare Financing
Trends; Health Insurance
Coverage; Engaging and
Empowering Consumers;
Collaborating with
Providers; and Expanding
Access to Quality and
Affordable Care. The
MCRG also provides
information on health
statistics, cost and
utilization information.
Trends highlighted in
the MCRG include:
-
U.S. spent nearly
$2.3 trillion, more
than 16 percent of
the Gross Domestic
Product, on
healthcare in 2007.
-
Healthcare is the
largest sector of
the U.S. economy and
accounts for nearly
20 percent of the
U.S. government
budget.
-
Since 2002, the
number of uninsured
has increased among
all income levels
and more than 50
percent of uninsured
Americans cannot
afford coverage.
-
s a percentage of
total expenditures,
consumers are
spending more on
healthcare, and
healthcare spending
is increasing across
all income levels in
both absolute and
percentage terms.
-
The leading causes
of death are also
the most costly. In
2004, over 147
million people had
one of the five most
costly conditions,
costing more than
$311 billion.
-
There are as many as
75,000 avoidable
deaths each year,
totaling as much as
$3.7 billion in
avoidable hospital
costs.
The Blue Cross and
Dear Colleague:
The United States
continues to spend
more on healthcare
than other nations,
but there are some
positive indicators
on
the horizon.
Healthcare spending
as a percent of
Gross Domestic
Product
(GDP) is 16 percent
in the U.S. and
rises to 19 percent
of total
national government
spending. As the
healthcare leaders
in
the U.S., Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
companies continue
to
aggressively manage
healthcare costs in
providing high value
healthcare that is
quality-driven,
affordable and
accessible. For
the fourth year in a
row, growth in
health insurance
premiums
declined in 2007 and
the rate of growth
is currently at its
lowest
level in seven
years.
There are also
positive indicators
in other key areas.
Growth in
consumer engagement
– measured by
enrollment in
consumer
driven health plans
(CDHPs), utilization
of health
information,
consumer health
tools and health
management programs
to
make more informed
healthcare decisions
– are all
increasing.
While these bode
well for the future,
the nation still
must work
aggressively to
better manage
overall healthcare
costs, which
are rapidly
approaching $2.3
trillion.
Now in its sixth
year of publication,
the Medical Cost
Reference
Guide provides
comprehensive
information on
healthcare
economics,
utilization and
management trends
from credible,
peer-reviewed
sources. We hope the
2008 Medical Cost
Reference Guide
continues to meet
the needs of all
healthcare
stakeholders.
Yours in good
health,
President and Chief
Executive Offi cer
Blue Cross and Blue
Shield
AssociationBlue
Shield Association
is a national
federation of 39
independent,
community-based and
locally operated
Blue Cross and Blue
Shield companies
that collectively
provide healthcare
coverage for more
than 100 million
individuals -
one-in-three
Americans.
For more information
on the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
Association and its
member companies,
please visit
www.BCBS.com.
