A new, more affordable option for businesses looking to offer quality health care coverage for their employees at a lower cost has just arrived. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is adding Blue Options 1-2-3 to its product lineup.

"Every year our winning companies raise the bar for what it means to be an employer of choice for working families," said Carol Evans, CEO and president, Working Mother Media. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina not only offers essential benefits like flextime and telecommuting, they go above and beyond with a range of best practices and policies to ease the difficulties for working parents and their families. Their supportive culture makes a huge difference to employees who want to be great moms and great workers."

As the state’s largest health insurer, BCBSNC wants its members to stay healthy this flu season. BCBSNC’s “Stick it to the Flu” program (bcbsnc.com/flu) kicks off in October and runs through December or as long as supplies last.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has reached a three-year agreement under which High Point Regional Hospital will remain an in-network hospital for BCBSNC members.

Two North Carolina companies are teaming up to help kids eat healthier and encourage their parents to do the same. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Lowes Foods are promoting an in-store scavenger hunt for healthy foods, asking kids to “hunt for better health.”

Officials of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) have rejected an ultimatum from the Moses Cone Health System for an immediate 18 percent fee increase and a more than 36 percent increase overall by July 2009.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has elected two respected Triangle leaders to serve on its board of trustees. Andrea Bazan-Manson and Walter C. Davenport were elected at the May meeting of the board. The BCBSNC board is made up of 14 community leaders from across North Carolina with diverse backgrounds in areas including health care, business, finance and education.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation has invested more than $560,000 in 11 organizations across the state through grants to fund programs designed to improve the health of vulnerable populations and promote physically active communities.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s (BCBSNC) annual food drive – Cross-Out Hunger Day – filled two trucks with donated food for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

NC Prevention Partners has honored Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) for its successful efforts to promote healthy weight, good nutrition and regular physical activity for its members. The company received the group’s 2007 NC Prevention Award for Preventive Benefits Excellence.