Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas Forms Alliance With State Farm To Help Enroll More Texans

Collaboration will make buying health insurance easier and more convenient

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Sep 23, 2014, 04:14 ET

RICHARDSON, Texas, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) announced today that it will be working with local State Farm agents in a new effort to broaden consumer access to health insurance in Texas during the upcoming open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act.

Starting on Nov. 15, State Farm agent offices in Texas will offer individual health insurance policies for coverage that can be effective as early as Jan. 1, 2015. This alliance addresses the need to expand access to individuals in Texas who seek coverage choices and provides an opportunity for them to obtain personal assistance from State Farm agents who may explain options and assist them in selecting plans that best meet their needs.

State Farm agents* will market health insurance plans both on and off the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges. Through exchanges, consumers who are eligible for financial assistance can shop and obtain help in paying premiums. Policies will also be available outside the public exchanges through this alliance. In Texas, BCBSTX will offer multiple health insurance plans from which State Farm clients may choose. Plans will be available in every county throughout Texas.

"This alliance brings together two iconic organizations, both known for delivering the most trusted insurance coverage and exceptional customer service," said Joe Monk, Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of State Farm Mutual. "With the health insurance environment changing under the Affordable Care Act, we continue to assess our alliance relationships and products available. State Farm's objective is to continue to market quality health products that help customers manage this everyday risk."

"By working with trusted State Farm agents in their local retail locations, this alliance could be a major force in helping to reduce the ranks of the uninsured in Texas," said Bert Marshall, President of BCBSTX. "This alliance is an extension of our longstanding commitment of expanding access to health care insurance options in every corner of Texas."

*State Farm agents will market the health plans through Insurance Placement Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

About State Farm
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 41 on the 2014 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.

About Insurance Placement Services, Inc. (IPSI)
Insurance Placement Services, Inc. (IPSI) is a non-insurance affiliate of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, currently used to account for financial activity resulting from strategic alliances formed with other insurers whose products are marketed by State Farm agents.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas | YouTube.com/BCBSTX

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas