CHICAGO, July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Through its Blue365 deals program, the Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association's (BCBSA) partnerships with nationally known
companies generated more than $31
million in savings for members of participating Blue Cross
and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies in 2014. With a variety of unique
and diverse products offered to more than 55 million BCBS
customers across the country, Blue365 provides a trusted,
convenient resource to get exclusive deals from top health and
wellness brands that help BCBS customers take control of their
health and personal well-being – 365 days a year.
Launched in 2012, Blue365 features weekly offers and
long-running discounts from top national retailers and other
vendors. Available products and services include gym memberships,
fitness gear, healthy eating options, stress management services,
hearing aids, vision and dental products and more.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to helping
their members find innovative solutions that encourage healthier
behavior and lower healthcare costs," said Mark Talluto, executive director of strategy,
marketing and sales support for BCBSA. "By offering discounts on
healthy products and other services through the Blue365 program,
we're making it easier and more cost effective for consumers to
take advantage of products that will help them maintain a healthier
and happier lifestyle."
One of the more popular Blue365 deals is the Healthways' gym
membership discount, the Healthways' Fitness Your Way program,
which provides BCBS members with access to more than 9,000 gyms
across the country for just $25 per
month. Membership in Fitness Your Way allows members the
flexibility to go to any gym in the Healthways network no matter
where they are. Fitness centers that participate in the network
include select Anytime Fitness®, Snap
Fitness®, and Curves®, among others. In a
recent Healthways survey of Blue365 members that utilize its
services, 97 percent of participants stated that it was important
for their health plans to offer fitness programs, and nearly half
reported that they had never been to a gym prior to joining the
Blue365 fitness program.
"Increased physical activity promotes higher overall well-being,
which helps prevent and control chronic health issues that
influence healthcare costs and productivity," said Alfred Lumsdaine, interim chief executive
officer of Healthways. "With our unique Healthways Fitness Your Way
program, available exclusively through Blue365, participating BCBS
companies offer their members access to an unparalleled network of
fitness centers to help them get active, which is a critical
component of any well-being improvement program."
Those with hearing impairments can take advantage of another
popular deal offered through Blue365 – the 30 to 60 percent
discount on hearing aids through Beltone and TruHearing. According
to recent TruHearing-funded research, 93 percent of respondents who
claimed that hearing loss impacts their quality of life reported
that hearing aids improved their quality of life. Additionally, 90
percent of respondents who claimed that hearing loss affects them
at work reported that hearing aids have improved their work
performance.
Twenty-one BCBS companies and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Government-wide Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal
Employee Program® (FEP®) are currently
participating in the Blue365 program. By signing up at Blue365,
members of participating BCBS companies receive special savings
from nationally recognized companies such as
Nutrisystem®, Reebok®, Retrofit®,
Davis Vision® and others. To see if your BCBS company
participates in Blue365 or for more information about the program,
visit www.blue365deals.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.
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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association