Though more than half of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) members are overweight or obese, many perceive their weight as “just right” – an apparent perception gap in how body weight impacts health.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announced plans to offer members significant savings on out–of–pocket prescription drug costs. The company is waiving copayments for members who fill a generic drug prescription from October through December of 2004.

The N.C. Health & Wellness Trust Fund Commission (HWTFC) and BCBSNC launched Fit Together, a long–term, comprehensive statewide overweight and obesity prevention initiative uniting $4.5 million in public and private resources.

“We had a year that was financially exceptional, but not repeatable,” BCBSNC President and CEO Bob Greczyn said. “Just as we expected, as the year went on, we saw medical costs increase and profitability decrease compared to the unusual results we saw early in the year. We expect this trend to continue into 2004.”

"Providing health care for the uninsured is crucial to the well-being of North Carolina, and it is central to the mission of the BCBSNC Foundation," said Bob Greczyn, president and chairman of the BCBSNC Foundation. "This partnership will help free clinics expand their scope statewide, providing quality health care to tens of thousands of North Carolinians."