Premera is a health benefits company serving 1.7 million people, from individuals to Fortune 100 companies. We provide health, life, vision, dental, long-term care coverage, and other related services. Premera Blue Cross is headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., with operations in Seattle and Spokane, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. The company and its predecessors have operated in Washington since 1933 and in Alaska since 1952.

Premera Blue Cross’s focus is on meeting customers’ needs. They’re introducing innovative products, delivering strong customer service and providing easy-to-understand information. The result: a wide range of health and benefits options that deliver a valuable difference.

About Premera Blue Cross

Premera Blue Cross’ products go beyond conventional designs (such as HMO and PPO) and allow customers to pick and choose the features that fit them best. Products have three parts: benefits, provider networks and care facilitation. What makes these products different is that we've taken these three elements and unbundled them.

With Dimensions, Premera is taking a leadership role in redefining and reinventing how our industry provides health coverage. Our mission is to be the health plan of choice and the standard of excellence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Premera Blue Cross is here and with you meeting the healthcare coverage needs of more than 1.6 million members.

Premera Blue Cross, Inc.

Corporate Headquarters:
7001 - 220Th Street Sw
Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043
(425) 670-4872
CEO:
H.R. Brereton (Gubby) Barlow
Employee Number:
2,900 employees
2008 Revenue:
$2.7 billion

Product Types Offered

Individuals

Premera Blue Cross offers Health Products for individuals, families and sole proprietors under the age of 65 and not eligible for Medicare. There are three basic types of plans, and specific plans for Washington and Alaska:

Catastrophic Plans
Heritage Value Plus 30™ (Washington)

• Coverage is primarily for illness or injuries
• Preventive care is not covered under this plan
• Includes prescription drug coverage
• Choose from three calendar year deductibles: $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000

Alaska Value Care 25 (Alaska)

• Great low rate
• No deductible on first three office visits
• Includes a pharmacy discount program

Value Plans
Heritage Protector Plus 20™ (Washington)

• Preventive care is covered up to one visit per person, per calendar year
• Provides catastrophic coverage in the event of major illness or accident
• Choose from two calendar year deductible choices: $500 or $1,000

Comprehensive Plans
Heritage Preferred Plus 20™ (Washington)
You are responsible for 20 percent (coinsurance) before your plans starts paying when network providers are used.

• Provides coverage for routine services including preventive care and major medical
• Includes pharmacy coverage
• Deductible is $1,000 per calendar year

Heritage Preferred Plus 30™ (Washington)
You are responsible for 30 percent (coinsurance) before your plans starts paying when network providers are used

• Provides coverage for routine services including preventive care and major medical
• Includes Pharmacy coverage
• Deductible is $1,000 per calendar year

Alaska Best Care 20 (Alaska)
Our most comprehensive plan

• The broadest range of medical services
• No deductible on first six office visits
• Includes prescription drug coverage

Alaska Global 20 (Alaska)
Our most comprehensive plan, combined with the greatest choice of providers

• Freedom to choose any doctor or hospital
• Coverage for a broad range of medical services
• Prescription drug coverage

Employers

Premera Blue Cross offers plans for four basic employer groups: plans for large groups (groups with 200 or more eligible employees), plans for medium groups (51-199 eligible employees), small groups (groups of 2-50 eligible employees), both in Alaska and in Washington.

Small - Washington

• Premera Choice (PPO)
• Premera Balance
• Premera Value - Catastrophic coverage.    
• Premera Future (High Deductible PPO qualified to work with HSA)

Medium - Washington

• Your Choice (traditional PPO)    
• Your Balance
• Your Choice (HRA –PPO plans)
• Your Future (High Deductible PPO qualified to work with HSA)   
• Your World

Small and Medium – Alaska

• Heritage Network Options
  • Heritage Plus
  • Heritage Select
• Heritage Health Plans
  • HeritageSelect HSA™
  • HeritagePlus HSA™

Large – Alaska

• Heritage Network Options
  • Heritage Plus
  • Heritage Select

Medicare Plans

Premera Blue Cross offers a range of plan options that meet a variety of budgets and needs. With MedicarePlus coverage, you have the freedom to choose your doctors and hospitals. You can receive care anywhere in the United States—and most plans include worldwide emergency coverage.

To complement your plan, Premera’s Extras! program offers savings on health and wellness products and services from major companies. Plus, the free 24-Hour NurseLine is available to you at any time.

There are four plans for Washington and five for Alaska:

1. Plan A provides coverage for basic benefits. This plan is available to Medicare-eligible people, including people with Medicare who are under 65.
2. Plan C adds coverage for skilled nursing, deductibles and foreign travel emergency.
3. Plan F includes all that Plans A and C cover plus 100 percent of Part B excess charges.
4. Plan I includes all that A, C and F cover, except for the Part B deductible. Plan I also adds coverage for at-home recovery.
5. Plan J includes all that Plan I covers, plus the Part B. This plan is available only in Alaska.

Provider Network

Network Facts

Membership:
More than 1.3 million members in Washington; more than 187,000 members in Alaska

Health Care Networks:
Premera Blue Cross offers a Washington network of nearly 20,000 healthcare professionals and 100 hospitals, and an Alaska network of about 1,000 healthcare professionals and 20 hospitals

Recent News

Here are some of the most recent news regarding Premera Blue Cross:

Tom Douglas and Premera Blue Cross Present ‘Made from Scratch’ Kids’ Cooking Classes

SEATTLE, WA – (June 9, 2009) – Acclaimed Seattle chef Tom Douglas, his daughter Loretta Douglas and Premera Blue Cross have teamed up to create Made from Scratch, a summer series of four cooking classes for children ages 8-12. This joint venture aims to cultivate within children a love of healthy food and an understanding of nutrition and the food chain, and to teach them basic food preparation techniques. The partnership between Premera and Tom Douglas Restaurants is the product of a shared commitment to expand awareness of the importance and enjoyment of healthy lifestyles.(Continue Reading)

Rating

Premera Blue Cross’s rating, as rated by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors.

Financial Strength Rating
Rating: A- (Excellent)
Affiliation Code: g (Group)
Financial Size Category: X ($500 Million to $750 Million)
Outlook: Stable
Action: Affirmed
Effective Date: June 15, 2009