Wellness Begins with Accountability and Awareness

Townsend Communications Makes Smooth Transition to Blue KC Healthcare Coverage

Emphasizing Health Promotions Throughout Our Community

Living Well 365 Days a Year

Blue KC Notice of Privacy Practices

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

FOR GROUP HEALTH PLAN EXECUTIVES WITH 100+ EMPLOYEES.

LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT/CEO

Blue KC is helping our community take the right steps to get healthy and stay healthy.

In 2005, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) began working with employers to launch A Healthier You, an innovative program with a focus on wellness. After successful results and valuable input, many new health and wellness tools were made available to ensure all Blue KC members were provided with resources for living a healthy life.

As the area’s market leader, Blue KC has the responsibility to increase the Kansas City region’s awareness as it relates to health and wellness.

David Gentile

Blue KC Honored with J.D. Power and Associates Member Satisfaction Ranking

WELLNESS BEGINS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND AWARENESS.

SUMMER 2012

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Providing tools and resources to our members was just a small step toward educating the entire community.

The ultimate objective of our wellness programs is to drive accountability for our health, from the perspective of employers, providers, and individuals.

By being proactive with wellness initiatives, Blue KC is helping our community take the right steps to stay healthy, which could help us all save money. For example, eating a proper diet and getting enough exercise costs much less than managing diabetes and other chronic health conditions that come about as a result of obesity. If everyone could get and stay healthy, less money would be spent on treating chronic conditions, conceivably could drive premiums down.

Our wellness programs focus on our members, and our health promotion initiatives focus on the community. Together they target prevention and education to help people lead healthy lifestyles, which benefits everyone. With our health promotions strategy, we are confident Blue KC will have a meaningful impact on the health of the Kansas City region.

In the months ahead, you will see many of Blue KC’s health initiatives on display throughout the region. We look forward to bringing these and other programs to the community, and appreciate the trust you place in Blue KC as we work to give your employees the comprehensive coverage, excellent service, and additional resources they deserve.

As another encouraging wellness activity, Faultless Starch has launched the Zanesville Challenge so all employees can participate in the wellness program and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the company. In the late 19th century, Major Thomas Graham Beaham journeyed 713 miles from Zanesville, Ohio, to Kansas City, Missouri, where he eventually founded Faultless Starch in 1887.

Today, the company is inviting all employees to map their wellness miles with a goal of reaching 713 miles. Whether an employee walks, runs, rows, bikes or does any other cardiovascular activity, Faultless Starch can convert the exercise to miles so the employee can take on the challenge.

“I’ve seen an immense change in people’s attitudes just because they’re finding better ways to be healthy and making themselves feel better, which in turn makes their families feel better,” said Beaham. “It’s just a very proactive, positive thing for their lifestyles.”

Faultless Starch manufactures and distributes laundry, household cleaning, air care, and lawn and garden products to consumer and commercial markets nationwide.

SUMMER 2012

CLIENT PROFILE

HEALTH PROMOTIONS

INCENTIVE PROGRAM HELPS FAULTLESS STARCH REWARD EMPLOYEES FOR WELLNESS

Emphasizing Health Promotions Throughout Our Community

Blue KC has committed to investing $7 million over the next five years to help Kansas City’s children and families lead healthier lives. As the area’s only local, not-for-profit health insurer, Blue KC has always made the health and wellness of Kansas City families a priority. The bottom line for us at Blue KC is we are a catalyst for change, and part of the collective solution so that improved community health in the Kansas City area is realized.

This initiative is a key component of our new Health Promotion strategy, which targets unique opportunities to address children’s health and obesity and develop new opportunities to educate and empower families to live healthier lives through our many partnerships.

Several healthy programs have already begun under the company’s new Health Promotion strategy:

Kansas City B-CycleBlue KC is partnering with BikeWalkKC to bring a bike-share system to Kansas City as a healthy low-cost transportation option. Kansas City B-Cycle offers a much needed alternative form of transportation around Kansas City, while promoting physical activity. Blue KC will help fund development of the bike-share system between Crown Center and the River Market.

Girls on the RunBlue KC has partnered with Girls on the Run to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.The after-school youth-development program uses a fun, well-researched curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Health Promotions WebsiteThe Blue KC health promotions website,BeWellKC.BlueKC.com, provides up to date information on Blue KC Health Promotionsinitiatives and a wide variety of wellness tools and resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A noteworthy component of the website is the Blue KC Healthy Family Survey – a tool that families can complete together that provides tailored feedback on current family practices around physical activity and nutrition. The survey is available to help address opportunities for developing simple solutions to living a healthier lifestyle.

For more information about Blue KC’s promotions, visit BeWellKC.BlueKC.com.

At the Faultless Starch/BonAmi Co., good health is not just an individual goal for an employee. Good health is a goal that has been embraced as part of the company’s overall wellness program for everyone at the 120-employee facility in downtown Kansas City.

For the second consecutive year, Faultless Starch is participating in an incentive program with its Blue KC healthcare coverage – a program designed to reward employees for healthy activities, including everything from strength training to cooking classes to yard work; and for preventive care, such as getting flu shots or an annual physical exam. Employees can self-report wellness activities and care to earn points, which can be redeemed online for gift cards, debit cards or even charitable contributions.

“With the incentive program, employees are able to monitor progress with their exercise every day, accumulate points and reap rewards doing so,” said Tricia Beaham, Wellness Coordinator. “It’s not just about health coverage or your dental or vision, it’s about a wellness program as a very positive view of taking care of the whole body.”

Faultless Starch also has its own internal points plan that closely mirrors Blue KC’s incentive program. For every point an employee earns with Blue KC’s program, the employee also earns a point through the Faultless plan to earn fun incentive prizes.

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO JUMPSTART YOUR HEALTHY

LIVING CAN BE FOUND THROUGH BLUE365 – AN

EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM FOR BLUE KC MEMBERS.

LETTER FROM OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Life moves fast, and sometimes our lifestyles just can’t keep up.

At the beginning of each year most people make resolutions to be healthier and make better lifestyle choices. Then a few months down the road, life happens, and we fall back into our bad habits again. We want to live healthy lives, but need the resources, and in some cases, incentives to make healthy living our choice.

Small ChangesHealthy living doesn’t have to be difficult. Making a few small changes to your diet and routine will help. Starting today you can get moving, add fruits and vegetables to your meals, and take care of your body.

Think you don’t have time for exercise? Take a brisk walk around your block or office. Walking just 10 minutes can help get your blood pumping, and give you more energy for the day. Have more time to spare? Try a yoga class. Yoga can improve your mood, concentration and posture while also lowering your blood pressure and anxiety.

Add more color to every meal with fruits and vegetables. You can also cut back on sweets and satisfy your sweet tooth with fresh fruits. Blue365®

Need an incentive to start living healthy? All Blue KC health insurance plans include Blue365®, an exclusive program for Blue KC members that offers discounts on health and wellness products and services.

Everything you need to jumpstart your healthy living can be found through Blue365 with ongoing discounts and exclusive weekly deals delivered to your email. Blue KC members can take advantage of discounts on fitness gear, gym memberships, family activities, hearing aids, vision care, meal delivery services, teeth whitening, and more from local and national companies – including some of the most trusted retailers right here in Kansas City.

For more health tips, to learn more about insurance coverage from Blue KC and to start saving with our exclusive Blue365 program, visit BlueKC.com.

Dr. Laiben is the Medical Director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, and was formerly an internist.

CHOICECOVERAGE

JUST A REMINDER

Blue KC Notice of Privacy Practices

In accordance with the HIPAA privacy regulations, we have the right to use and disclose Blue KC members’ protected health information (PHI) for payment activities and healthcare operations. The majority of our uses and disclosures of your employees’ PHI will be for these functions.

Blue KC members have rights regarding PHI, including the right to request:

• to inspect or receive a copy of their PHI ina designated record set.

• that we amend their records held in adesignated record set.

• that we restrict the use and disclosure oftheir PHI.

• that we communicate with them in analternate manner or to an alternate address.

• an accounting of certain disclosures of theirPHI.

If members believe that we have violated privacy rights, they may complain to us or they may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For a complete description of how we may use and disclose our members’ PHI, your employees may view the Notice of Privacy Practices on our website at BlueKC.com, or they may call the Customer Service phone number listed on their Blue KC member ID card. In addition, Notice of Privacy Practices information is available in each member’s member certificate.

LIVING WELL 365 DAYS A YEAR

Greg Laiben, MD, Medical Director

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PO Box 419071Kansas City, MO 64141

Choice Coverage is published three times a year for group health plan executives in the Kansas City area by Blue KC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Contact John Kirchmeyer at (816) 360-1142 or john.kirchmeyer@bluekc.com.

SUMMER 2012

Blue KC ranked “Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Heartland Region.” by J.D. Power and Associates.

For more than 70 years, Blue KC’s focused attention on quality and service has laid a strong foundation for our success in the community. On March 13, 2012, the J.D. Power and Associates annual ranking of health plans provided independent recognition of our efforts, ranking Blue KC as “Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Heartland Region.”

The study measures member satisfaction among 141 health plans in 17 regions throughout the United States by examining seven key factors: coverage and benefits; provider choice; information and communication; claims processing; statements; customer service; and approval processes. In addition to ranking Blue KC highest overall in the Heartland Region, customers delivered region-high scores for our Information and Communication, Claims Processing and Approvals.

Blue KC appreciates the trust you place in us as we continue working to give your clients – our members – the excellent service they deserve.

“Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Heartland Region.” Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City received the highest numerical score among commercial health plans in the Heartland region (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska) in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Member Health Plan StudySM. Study based on 32,868 total member responses, measuring nine plans in the Heartland Region (excludes Medicare and Medicaid). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed December 2011-January 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

HONORS

Blue KC Honored with J.D. Power and Associates Member Satisfaction Ranking

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