New self-managed plan lets members earn virtual funds through healthy

                                  choices



    PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 4 /EMWNews/ -- We all know the benefits of

healthy living, and now there's a health plan that rewards members for

doing the right thing. Regence's new Activate self-managed health plan

offers the strongest embodiment yet of the company's belief that engaged

consumers are a vital partner in transforming health care.



    "Employers today want to support their employees' efforts to adopt

healthier lifestyles," said Mohan Nair, executive vice president and chief

marketing executive for Regence. "Regence Activate offers a solution by

encouraging members to become active partners in their health care

decisions and rewarding them directly for that behavior."



    Now available for fully insured groups of two or more, Regence Activate

members earn points for engaging in healthy behaviors. These points convert

to Member Choice Funds, which can be used to pay deductibles or other

covered out-of-pocket medical expenses.



    Regence Activate members use myRegence.com to log activity, earn

points, and manage their Member Choice Account. Each year, a member earns

$200 of Member Choice Funds just for completing an online health

assessment. Members can continue to earn an additional $400 each year by

logging their activities at myRegence.com. Choosing from a list of 67

qualifying wellness activities, members can earn points for participating

in programs for weight loss or for activities such as running, skiing,

health club attendance, getting an annual flu shot, and attending a

nutrition or healthy cooking class.



    "Regence Activate offers a win-win for employers and their employees,"

said Nair. "Employees will reap the benefits of healthy living and managing

their own health care, while Regence partners with their employer to

incentivize the right behavior."



    Having healthier employees translates into a healthier bottom line for

employers. Regence's own employees, for example, have shown that embracing

healthier lifestyles can lead to reduced health care costs. Regence's

health care cost trends for their own employees have steadily decreased

since 2002 due to incentive programs that have encouraged employees to lose

weight, quit smoking, and engage in other healthy behaviors.



    Self-managed plans are a completely new kind of coverage that promotes

healthy living, fewer hassles, and more choice. The plans include at no

additional cost a variety of programs to help members make the best use of

those choices. These include:






    -- MyRegence.com -- claims, accumulators, information, tools, programs

    -- Health Coach

    -- 24/7 NurseLine

    -- Special Beginnings

    -- Regence Advantages program -- discounts on things such as hearing aids,

       fitness club membership, weight management program, contact lenses and

       LASIK



    With self-managed plans, members don't need to check to see if their

doctor is in or out of a network -- all are available in these plans. No

primary care physician requirements and no referral requirements mean fewer

hassles for members. For more information on Regence's self-managed plans

and product features, go to http://www.selfmanagedplans.com.

    About Regence



    Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest / Intermountain

Region, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence serves three

million members as Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross

BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueShield (in Washington) and Regence

BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Each health plan is a not-for-profit

independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence

is committed to improving the health of our members and our communities,

and to transforming our health care system. For more information, please

visit regence.com.