State of Arizona to Offer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Network to State Employees, Families

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is pleased to announce the State of Arizona is offering a BCBSAZ network option to approximately 65,000 state employees and their families during the upcoming health insurance open enrollment period.

“As a local company, the relationships we’ve fostered within the health care provider community are an important part of the value we bring to State of Arizona employees.”

The State of Arizona awarded a contract to AmeriBen, a full-service third party administrator, to administer medical benefits as part of its health coverage options. AmeriBen is working with BCBSAZ to offer State of Arizona employees and their families access to the BCBSAZ physician and hospital network.

“We have been building upon and strengthening the network of doctors and hospitals we offer to our members since our doors opened 70 years ago,” said Tom Dameron, vice president of sales for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “As a local company, the relationships we’ve fostered within the health care provider community are an important part of the value we bring to State of Arizona employees.”

Employees will have access to one of Arizona’s largest provider networks available to State employees, including more than 17,000 physicians and other health care professionals, 112 urgent care centers and 70 hospitals in Arizona. In a 2008 Physician Satisfaction Study by Westgroup Research, 96 percent of the surveyed physicians were satisfied with BCBSAZ and 89 percent of physicians said they would be likely to recommend BCBSAZ to a patient.

“State of Arizona employees work hard every day to make Arizona a great place to live,” said Dameron. “We appreciate their hard work and support for our great state and now we can help to support them and their families with a large network of physicians and hospitals.”

Under the terms of the contract, BCBSAZ network access for Arizona-based employees and retirees will be administered by AmeriBen. The State of Arizona medical plan will be serviced by four awardees.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based health insurance company. The not-for-profit company was founded in 1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to more than 1.3 million individuals. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tempe and Tucson, the company employs more than 1,500 Arizonans. For information about BCBSAZ and its HealthyBlue program, an integrated program of tools, resources and services that can help Arizonans live a healthier lifestyle, visit www.azblue.com/HealthyBlue.