For immediate release: January 19, 2011
Contact: Kevin Goddard  (802) 371-3244

Berlin, Vt. – Vermont’s new governor, Legislature and Congressional delegation have embarked on an historic effort to implement transformational reform of the state’s health care system and can rely on the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, the state’s only local health plan said today.

“Health care reform will be difficult and it will be challenging, and to be successful it will require all of us within health care to advocate for the system as a whole, rather than for each of our separate parts of it,” said Don George, BCBSVT’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“As Vermont’s largest private payer and the only plan that has continuously served all segments of Vermont’s population for more than 30 years, we have a wealth of data, experience and perspective to bring to this process. Without endorsing any specific proposal, we look forward to working closely with lawmakers and our customers over the next several months as they evaluate various approaches to health care reform.”

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, located in the central Vermont community of Berlin, is a not-for-profit company employing 340 Vermonters. Its affiliation with the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield system provides its 178,000 members with the security of seamless, discounted health care services when they travel across the country or abroad, but it exists solely to serve Vermonters and is governed and managed locally.

George said the company will thoughtfully assess the new proposals that will be considered on the basis of how well they will deliver on the reform vision that BCBSVT shares with policy makers -- for a transformed health care system in which every Vermonter has health coverage and receives timely, effective and affordable care. He said the company will make recommendations to policy makers based on those assessments so that Vermonters and businesses receive the maximum value from a transformed health care system.

“We have been an important part of health care reform in Vermont, from the pioneering community rating and guaranteed issue legislation of the early 1990s to the BluePrint for Health, VITL, Catamount Health and more recently implementation of the new federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” said George.

“We are proud of the leadership Vermont has shown, and look forward to working with the new Administration and Legislature on the ambitious agenda they have created for Vermont.”

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is the state’s oldest and largest private health insurer, providing coverage for about 178,000 Vermonters. It employs 340 Vermonters at its headquarters in Berlin and branch office in South Burlington, and offers group and individual health plans to Vermonters. More information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is available on the internet at www.bcbsvt.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent corporation operating under a license with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.