INScompanies Blog

Estimates predict that generic versions of Zocor will lower the price by 80 percent over the next six-to-eight months

BOISE – Two popular prescription drugs are now available as generics, and both are expected to reap significant savings on prescription drug costs for consumers and employers who purchase health plans.

The first new generic drug, called simvastatin, is available at pharmacies as a generic equivalent for Zocor, a brand name statin drug used to reduce cholesterol levels and thus reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Zocor’s patent expired in June, clearing the way for the introduction of the generic. The generic equivalent of the antidepressant Zoloft is also available at pharmacies.

“Prescription medications are a key driver of escalating health care costs, so the availability of these drugs is great news for consumers,” said Terrance Killilea, Pharm. D, director of Pharmacy Services for Regence. “These generic drugs offer the same safety as the brand drug, while saving people money on their prescription drug costs.”

As required by the Food and Drug Administration, generic versions of brand-name drugs must have quality, strength, purity and stability equal to the brand-name drugs. It is estimated that the generic versions of Zocor scheduled for release will lower the price by 80 percent over the next six-to-eight months.

The introduction of the generic versions of Zocor in particular could potentially save members in Regence’s four-state service area more than $60 million annually. The company insures people in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Regence has several programs that help members save on their prescriptions, and more programs are being added that will further enhance the savings of switching to generic drugs. Among these is RegenceRx, the company’s in-house Pharmacy Benefit Management program (PBM). The program goes far beyond the FDA’s review of new medications in order to provide consumers with safe, cost-effective and clinically sound medication options.

Additionally, Regence members can now access pharmacy-related information on the Regence Engine (myregence.com), an interactive environment that can advise, navigate and reward members in all their health care decisions. Members who access the Engine have the opportunity to become more motivated to take accountability for their health because they can quickly and easily perform health care tasks, explore events and rewards for healthy living, and plan ahead for annual health care needs.

About Regence BlueShield of Idaho
Regence BlueShield of Idaho has more than 700 employees statewide and is headquartered in Lewiston and maintains offices in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Pocatello and Twin Falls. It is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of 38 independent, locally operated Blue Shield and/or Blue Cross companies that collectively provide coverage to 88.8 million people – nearly one in three Americans. It is an affiliate of Regence, which consists of four Blue Shield and/or Blue Cross plans located in four states, including Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. For more information, visit our Web site at www.id.regence.com.

Regence News Release
For Immediate Release August 18, 2006
Contact Georganne Benjamin (208) 395-7723 – office (208) 867-6888 - cell
georganne.benjamin@regence.com

New option provides cost-effective coverage to help people maintain good oral health, which can help prevent more serious health problems

Portland, OR (Oct. 3, 2006) – Regence Life and Health Insurance Company has launched a new benefit known as Voluntary Dental, which may help some of the 117,000 children in Oregon who are without health insurance prevent more than just cavities.

Tooth decay and pain from untreated dental disease impairs children’s ability to do simple things like eat and sleep and lowers their self-esteem. It can also affect their ability to learn and impair their quality of life as they grow older. Current research indicates that dental hygiene is linked to cardiovascular disease, low birth-weight babies, diabetes complications and stroke, suggesting that good oral hygiene can help keep people healthy and lower their risk of developing these medical conditions. Still, approximately 45 percent of the population is without dental insurance, often due to lack of affordability.

Regence Life and Health’s new Voluntary Dental coverage offers a potential solution for employers seeking ways to balance health care costs with employees’ health care needs and that of their families. Voluntary means that the employee pays for the majority of the premium, but they pay the less expensive, pre-tax group rates, making such plans more affordable for both employers and their employees.

“As health care costs rise for consumers, even people who have insurance often don’t have dental insurance. Regence’s Voluntary Dental Coverage gives consumers and their families a chance to help children build healthy oral habits now, which can help them stay healthy as they grow older,” said George Ross, vice president of Regence Life and Health.

Regence’s new Voluntary Dental product features two benefit maximum options, both of which cover standard preventive services such as cleanings, x-rays and fluoride treatments for children. The product is available now for a coverage effective date of October 1, 2006. Employers may contact their local agent or broker or Regence Life and Health’s customer service team at 1 (800) 794-5390 for more information.

For more than 20 years, Regence Life and Health has offered quality life and disability products and health plans. As a subsidiary of member Plans of Regence, the company is associated with the financial strength and brand recognition of the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Mountain State Region, which operates Blue Shield/Blue Cross plans in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Collectively, these not-for-profit Plans serve
nearly three million people.

For Immediate Release – October 3, 2006
Contact: Samantha Meese
(503) 225-5332

(Salt Lake City) – When enrollment opens for Medicare Part D on Nov. 15, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and its subsidiary, Regence Life and Health, will offer two of the prescription drug options available in Utah.

The new Medicare Part D plans are expected to help alleviate the pressure of high prescription drug costs on people who are eligible for Medicare and typically living on fixed incomes. The plans are effective Jan. 1, 2006.

“Through our award-winning pharmacy program, Regence has proven that consumers can receive safe and effective medications at a reasonable cost,” said David Clark, vice president of Pharmacy Services. “Medicare Part D brings these savings to those in our communities who often have the greatest need for pharmacy services.”

Regence members who enroll in the new prescription drug plan will receive all the benefits mandated by the federal legislation, plus several features unique to the Regence plan. These include access to special network prices and low co-pays for generic and preferred brand-name drugs available at 2,500 contracted Medicare pharmacies across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah.

In addition, members have direct access to hospital ratings, doctors’ profiles and cost breakdowns as well as health-related news and details on community events through the Regence Engine, a members-only Web site (www.myregence.com). And, they are eligible for discounts on health club memberships, vision and hearing aids through the Regence Advantages program.

“Pharmacy coverage has been at the top of the wish list for our Medicare members for years,” said Scott Ideson, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah president. “We are very pleased to bring even more value to our members by participating in the new Part D program. We encourage Medicare-eligible consumers to learn more about the new pharmacy coverage by attending an educational seminar or reading about the options online.”

Both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and health plans are offering seminars and have posted information on their Web sites. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is offering seminars in communities around Utah in October. Details are available at www.ut.regence.com/needCoverage/medicare/seminar.html.

In Utah, Regence is offering both a stand-alone prescription drug plan (PDP) and a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD).

· Stand-alone PDP: Regence Life and Health Medicare Script TM - Monthly premium: $27.03 - Annual deductible: $250 - $5 co-pay for generic medications - $18 co-pay for preferred brand-name medications - The plan is offered through Regence Life and Health, a Regence subsidiary, and is available to Utah and Idaho residents.

· MA-PD: Regence MedAdvantage + Rx - The plan adds prescription drug coverage to Regence MedAdvantage, a Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah PPO plan for Medicare-eligible consumers. - Monthly premium: $72* - Annual pharmacy deductible: $250 - $5 co-pay for generic medications - $18 co-pay for preferred brand-name medications - $5 co-pay for most in-network medical services - Available in the following counties: Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah and Weber.

Along with Medicare Part D, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah offers a suite of other Medicare supplement plans. For detailed information on these plans, please visit www.ut.regence.com/needCoverage/medicare/index.html or call 1 (800) 633-4227. * Compared to $50 for Regence MedAdvantage without pharmacy coverage.

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, established in 1942 as Utah’s first health insurance carrier, provides benefits to more than 400,000 Utahns. The company is a member of The Regence Group, an affiliation of four BlueCross BlueShield companies in Utah, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Together, Regence companies ensure more than 3 million members and are the largest health insurance carriers in the Intermountain West and the Northwest.

For Immediate Release October 10, 2005

Contact: J. Kevin Bischoff (801) 333-5285 kbischoff@regence.com