Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas Offers Consumers Expanded On-The-Ground Help And Online Resources During Open Enrollment Period

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Dec 03, 2014, 11:51 ET

RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has launched several new efforts, both on-the-ground and online, to help connect consumers with personal assistance during the current health insurance open enrollment period. The open enrollment period opened November 15, 2014 and closes on February 15, 2015. Consumers need to enroll by December 15, 2014 for their coverage to begin on January 1, 2015.

"As Texans begin the process of renewing their health insurance, or enrolling for the first time, we are finding that they have questions about their coverage options, the enrollment process, and specific deadlines. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is working to make the answers to these questions, and others, as accessible as possible by offering expanded enrollment resources, " said Dr. Dan McCoy, chief medical officer for BCBSTX. "We want to be there every step of the way, providing helpful information to consumers in English and Spanish."

In all 254 counties of Texas, BCBSTX is offering health insurance plans from which consumers may choose, including: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Catastrophic and Dental plans. All metallic plans include essential health benefits and prescription drug coverage.

Staffed Retail Locations

BCBSTX is offering in-person assistance in select Target and H-E-B retail stores in Dallas, Houston and Austin. At each retail location, BCBSTX brokers will walk consumers through the enrollment process to help families and individuals choose the best plan for them, either on or off the exchange. On the exchange, consumers who are eligible for financial assistance to help pay premiums can compare health insurance plans. In-person help can be found at the following retail locations:

Austin
H-E-B, 6900 Brodie Lane, Austin, TX 78745
H-E-B, 12407 N Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX 78758

Dallas (Spanish and English assistance available):
Target, 13131 Montfort Drive, Dallas, TX 75240
Target, 9440 Marsh Lane, Dallas, TX 75220
Target, 6419 Skillman Street, Dallas, TX 75231

Houston
H-E-B, 9710 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77055
H-E-B, 6210 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX 77505
H-E-B, 11815 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77077

Traveling Mobile Assistance Centers

Two BCBSTX Mobile Assistance Centers (MACs) and one Enrollment RV will travel across the state providing bilingual in-person assistance, educational materials and enrollment capabilities. The MACs will make stops in Dallas and Houston. The Enrollment RV will travel throughout South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, and make stops in Corpus Christi, Laredo, Houston, San Antonio, McAllen, Brownsville, Harlingen and Mission. To see a list of dates and locations the RV and MACs will travel, visit www.HealthDestinationTX.com for English or www.DestinoSaludTX.com for Spanish.

Enrollment Events

BCBSTX is hosting four Countdown to Coverage: Health Care Enrollment and Wellness Fairs - two in Houston and two in Dallas. At these free, health insurance enrollment and wellness events, enrollment counselors will provide Texans with in-person enrollment assistance in both English and Spanish. The events will also offer on-site health insurance educational resources, free flu shots, free health screenings and community resources. The Houston events are scheduled for December 6 and January 24 at Chancellors Family Center. The Dallas events are scheduled for December 13 and January 31 at the Embarcadero Building in Fair Park. For more information, or to register for the events, call 866-427-7497 or visit EnrollYouTx.com.

Online Resources in English and Spanish

BCBSTX is providing several online tools in English and Spanish:

Online Health Insurance Buyers Guide: Helps consumers understand where and how to enroll in health insurance, how to get financial assistance and how to determine plan options.
Spanish Assistance Finder: Directs consumers to Spanish language health resources and insurance brokers near them that speak Spanish to help understand what is needed to prepare for open enrollment.
Subsidy Estimator (Spanish and English): Determines estimated subsidy amounts for qualified Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans on the marketplace in advance of enrolling in a 2015 ACA plan.
Provider Finder: Helps consumers understand the importance of using in-network providers and identifies doctors and hospitals within BCBSTX plan networks to best meet individual needs.

Consumers may also visit www.bcbstx.com, text LowerTX for English or AhorraTX for Spanish to 33633, or call 888-731-0317 for information on how to enroll. Call centers are available 24/7 with an increased number of customer service representatives and courtesy call back features to minimize hold times.

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