RELEASE
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and State Farm® Affiliates Expand Consumer Access to Individual Health Coverage
bcbsm
| 4 min read
State Farm Agents and Licensed Representatives in Michigan to Market Individual Health Insurance Policies Beginning Nov. 1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) announced today that it will be working with local State Farm agents in a new effort to broaden consumer access to health insurance in Michigan during the upcoming open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act. Starting on Nov. 1, State Farm agents in Michigan will market individual health insurance policies for coverage with effective dates beginning Jan. 1, 2016. This alliance provides consumers with an opportunity to obtain personal assistance from State Farm agents who can explain coverage options and assist individuals in selecting plans that best meet their needs. Consumers have until Jan. 31 to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act for calendar year 2016. “As we move into the third open enrollment period, individual consumers need to be more engaged in their own health care than ever before,” said Rick Notter, director, Individual Business for BCBSM. “Partnering with State Farm gives Michigan residents another resource to explore the many options available, and allows many to work with an agent they may already have a relationship with to make this important decision.” “This expansion of our alliance with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to provide individual medical coverage is an important step in helping meet the health care needs of the marketplace, and we are excited about expanding our alliance,” said State Farm senior vice president Joe Monk. “At State Farm, we help people manage risk and realize their dreams. Marketing individual medical coverage allows our agents to help people manage this key risk, so they can live confidently in pursuing their dreams. We're excited to team up with organizations of the caliber of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in providing this important protection.” This expanded Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and State Farm alliance will allow State Farm agents the ability to market Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance coverage in 19 states. Nearly 11,000 State Farm agents, and their licensed representatives, will work with independent BCBS companies in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.* * BCBS policies in certain portions of Missouri, New York and Virginia will not be available through local State Farm agents, including: the Kansas City Metro area and Northwestern Missouri; central New York (including Rochester and Syracuse); and Arlington County and the areas of Fairfax and Prince William counties lying east of Route 123 in Virginia. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com. About State Farm State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. Their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve over 82 million policies and accounts – nearly 80 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is 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 2015 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit www.statefarm.com. About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 106 million members – one in three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog for up-to-date information about BCBSA. Photo Credit: State Farm
