Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Introduces New Individual Products

PRNewswire/ -- Today, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) introduced two suites of PPO products called SmartSense and Premier that will provide Georgians with more affordable options for individual insurance.

The SmartSense plan is designed for consumers who are price conscious and want solid protection to cover the essentials. "Georgians who are seeking a health plan that offers affordability and provides coverage for routine services that can help them improve or maintain their health, now have another option, with premiums for SmartSense ranging from as little as $36.82 to $175.64 per month for a healthy 25-year-old male," said Monye Connolly, president of BCBSGa. The SmartSense plans provide coverage for up to three physician office visits a year before a member has to meet a deductible, some preventive benefits and a choice of prescription drug coverage options.

The Premier plan is designed for customers who want the security of a comprehensive benefit design with lower out of pocket costs. This plan is also a good choice for families with children, or those planning to have children. The Premier plan provides unlimited coverage for office visits before having to meet a deductible, provides preventive benefits, comprehensive prescription coverage and offers the ability to add maternity coverage.

SmartSense and Premier provide protection against expensive and unexpected medical bills. "These plans were designed for those consumers who recognize the importance of health coverage, but need flexibility when it comes to cost," said Connolly. "The plans offer a variety of deductibles that will help consumers find a premium they can afford."

"I would like to thank Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia for providing these new and innovative products," said Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine. "I applaud them for giving Georgians additional options when shopping for their health care needs."

SmartSense and Premier, which BCBSGa will begin offering on July 19, are targeted towards Georgians who work for companies that do not offer health care coverage, as well as early retirees and others who want a cost effective option.

Connolly says the availability of SmartSense and Premier will be appealing options for many Georgians who want more control over their health care choices and reflects the company's on-going commitment to reduce the percentage of Americans who are uninsured.

"Our goal is to offer a menu of plans that provide consumers with benefits that address a variety of life stages," said Connolly. "As we move forward, we will continue to focus on providing affordable plans that maintain the high quality and value-added benefits consumers have come to expect."

Members choosing SmartSense and Premier have access to more than 15,000 Georgia PPO network doctors and specialists and nearly 170 hospitals. These plans also provide coverage outside the state of Georgia through the Blue Card program.

In addition to SmartSense and Premier, BCBSGa also offers Tonik -- an individual product targeted toward Georgia's "young invincibles" -- individuals between the ages of 18 and 29. Since introducing the products in 2006, more than 8,000 Georgians are covered by Tonik.

For more information about SmartSense and Premier or other BCBSGa products, contact your authorized Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia agent or call 1-800-896-2583, or visit us at www.BCBSGA.com .