Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Announces the Launch of Blue Direct and Blue Vision Products.

ATLANTA -- Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) today announced the launch of two new products: Blue Direct HMO/POS and Blue Vision respectively.

Blue Direct makes available the same comprehensive coverage members have come to expect from an HMO or POS plan with the added convenience of eliminating referral requirements for specialist office visits. Separately, Blue Vision provides a new insured vision product for employers as well as individuals.

Blue Direct offers members greater flexibility in managing their health care while still maintaining the important relationship with their primary care physician (PCP). "With Blue Direct, it is a win-win for employers and members," said John Watts, president and chief executive officer of BCBSGa. "These products provide a higher level of member involvement in managing their health care, administrative ease for employers, and a variety of plan designs for members throughout Georgia."

Blue Vision gives groups the opportunity to provide a total health package to their employees. Blue Vision is a partnership between BCBSGa and Avesis, a national vision benefits administrator. The plan is designed to reduce member costs by delivering benefits and services through a quality network of vision providers.

The Blue Vision network in Georgia consists of nearly 300 provider locations, including independent and chain providers. The Blue Vision national network gives members access to more than 11,000 credentialed providers with future efforts to recruit additional providers for both the Georgia and national networks.

"Blue Direct and Blue Vision are products designed with members in mind, offering unrivaled choice, convenience and value," added Watts.

Additional information about these products, including provider directories, can be found online at www.bcbsga.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, serving more than 3.1 million medical members, is the oldest and largest health benefits company in Georgia. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., the nation's second largest publicly traded health care company serving the health care needs of 15.6 million medical members and 46.8 million specialty members nationally. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia can be found on the web at www.bcbsga.com. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.