2010 Calendar Year Financial Results Announcement

Today we reported our 2010 calendar year financial results. We would like to thank you for your continued dedication and support in today's competitive environment. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve you and your clients.

For details about our financial results, please read our recent press release. If you have any questions, please contact your account executive.

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Hospital Choice Cost Sharing from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

In 2011, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts rolled out a new standard small group plan feature, known as Hospital Choice Cost Sharing. Hospital Choice Cost Sharing empowers members to control their own out-of-pocket costs based on the hospital they choose for care.

Members can cut their out-of-pocket costs when they seek care at one of the 54 designated high-quality, lower cost hospitals in the network. They also have access to the remainder of our full network, though at higher costs.

This allows members to enjoy robust benefits by choosing our most efficient providers, but maintains their full choice.

Educating Your Clients on Hospital Choice Cost Sharing
Your clients will most likely need help understanding how Hospital Choice Cost Sharing works. Our online training video is designed to help you explain to your clients the benefits of encouraging their employees to use lower cost, high-quality providers.

Accessing the Training Video
Please visit BlueLinks for Brokers to access the Hospital Choice Cost Sharing training video. You can use the same user name and password you use for your BlueLinks for Brokers/BlueQuote login to access the Hospital Choice Cost Sharing training video. Click on the Training Portal link after logging in to BlueQuote. If you are not a registered user, contact the BlueLinks for Brokers Help Desk at
1-888-514-2583 or via email at bluelinksforbrokershelp@bcbsma.com.

New Educational Tool for Members
To help our members achieve the best savings and make the most of the new Hospital Choice Cost Sharing plan feature, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has launched a new interactive tutorial. The new tutorial teaches members the basics of Hospital Choice Cost Sharing in just five minutes. Complete with voice-over narration, the new tool introduces members to Hospital Choice Cost Sharing in a way that is:

• Engaging—A casual tone and distinctive graphics provide the member with an effective and appealing way to learn.

• Interactive—Members can choose whether they want to see an example with or without a deductible, revisit a previous section, or pause the tutorial whenever they need to.

• Easy-to-understand—Simple language and clear explanations make the tool useful to all members without overwhelming them.

Once members use the Hospital Choice Cost Sharing tutorial, they are directed to a detailed Planning Guide that will help them learn how to make the right decisions for them.

Other Hospital Choice Cost Sharing Support Tools
To help your clients launch this new feature with their employees, we have developed a suite of customizable tools accessible at the Blue IQ Communications Center. At the site, you can download and use:

• Communications Calendar that lays out how to use the tools to easily engage employees

• Announcement letter and follow-up communications to introduce this feature and reinforce key concepts

• Self-running member education presentation with narration that can be used during Open Enrollment sessions or for spouses to explain the feature

• Hospital and cost facilities lists

• And other resources

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If the above links are not functioning in your email, copy and paste the URLs listed below into a browser window:

2010 Calendar Year Financial Results Announcement press release
http://www.bluecrossma.com/eemail/broker-enews/2010-year-end-financials.pdf

Bluelinks for Brokers
http://www.bluecrossma.com/bluelinks-for-brokers/

Hospital Choice Cost Sharing
http://www.bluecrossma.com/plan-education/medical/hccs/index.html

Blue IQ Communications Center
http://www.bluecrossma.com/blue-iq/plan-education/hospital-choice-cost-sharing.html

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