Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Receives Approval to Offer a New Medicare Advantage Health Plan.

ATLANTA -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer a new Medicare Advantage health plan to Medicare beneficiaries in Georgia. The product is called SmartValue and is a Private Fee for Service (PFFS) health plan that will be offered in 80 counties throughout Georgia.

SmartValue is a fully insured health plan that offers all of the coverages available under traditional Medicare, and provides additional preventive benefits such as routine physical exams, routine visions services and some eyewear.

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is proud to bring affordable health care options to its members. Through the SmartValue product Medicare beneficiaries will be able to receive affordable health care with additional options from any provider willing to accept Medicare reimbursement," said Carolyn Haynes, Director of Product Development, BCBSGa.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) serves more than 3.2 million medical members and is the oldest and largest health benefits company in Georgia. Blue Cross Blue Shield is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. As the nation's largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company, WellPoint serves the health care needs of approximately 28 million medical members nationally. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and can be found on the web at www.bcbsga.com.