“Too often, our customers will head to the emergency room with a sick child, wait two hours to be seen and then realize they could have visited an urgent care center and paid a lot less,” said John Roos, BCBSNC senior vice president for sales and marketing. “In situations like this, customers can now use our new mobile app to access health information in a fast, easy-to-use format. We’re leveraging technology to give our customers a better experience.”

“BCBSNC is a leader in delivering innovative healthcare products, services and information to millions of members across North Carolina,” said Kathy Higgins, vice president of Community Relations and president of the independent BCBSNC Foundation. “We seek to strengthen our relationships in the Charlotte region and believe that providing a dedicated professional as the local face of our company is the best way to accomplish our goal.”

"I'm pleased that the Department and Blue Cross were able to identify a way for $155.8 million to go back into consumers' wallets," said Commissioner Goodwin. "I'm also glad that we were able to negotiate a lower-than-requested rate adjustment that will save $14.5 million in future premiums for policyholders."

BCBSNC President and CEO Brad Wilson said, “It’s a great honor for our company to be recognized for the fourth year in a row as one of the 100 best companies in the nation for working mothers. We are very proud of this record of being an employer of choice when it comes to offering the kind of benefits and services that count for working mothers and working families.”

Celebrating its silver anniversary this year, the Working Mother 100 Best Companies initiative has selected Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) as one of the nation's top companies for family-friendly benefits. With 70 percent of mothers working-and women outnumbering men in the workplace for the first time in U.S. history-companies like BCBSNC have been instrumental in supporting their advancement.

“Most of our Blue Advantage and Blue Options HSA customers will see smaller rate increases for 2011,” said BCBSNC President and CEO Brad Wilson. “However, the only way to make premiums affordable over the long term is to get soaring medical costs under control.”