Major Health Insurance Provider Unveils Plan To Cover Uninsured

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, one of the largest health care providers in the industry, is proposing a five-point plan to increase coverage of the nation’s 47 million uninsured individuals.

The plan, which was unveiled in late January, includes the following provisions to improve quality, value and expand coverage:

1. Encourage Research on Best Practices: Continued funding for research will help doctors and practitioners discover the best treatments.

2. Change Incentives to Promote Better Care: Provide incentives to institutions that stay up-to-date on the latest health research and best practices, in order to decrease the amount of money spent on ineffective treatments.

3. Empower Consumers and Providers: The use of electronic medical records as well as transparency in the medical field will benefit consumers by increasing knowledge of medical costs and granting easier access to needed patient records.

4. Promote Health and Wellness: Encourage patients to undertake lifestyle changes that will help manage current illnesses as well as prevent chronic illnesses.

5. Foster Public-Private Coverage Solutions: The public and private sectors must work hand-in-hand to offer coverage to all groups.