By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the state’s largest health insurer, is providing customers with significant discounts on premiums to offer some financial relief from the coronavirus pandemic.
For the month of November, Blue Cross will discount health insurance premiums 20% and dental insurance premiums 50%. All told, the savings will total an estimated $80 million, the company said in a press release.
“Many of our customers are struggling with the financial impacts of COVID-19,” said Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama president and CEO Tim Vines. “We care about our customers and hope these discounted premiums will ease some of the financial burden during these challenging times.”
Customers with health and dental plans will receive both discounts, the company said. Customers can expect the discount to be automatically applied to their November invoice.
Earlier this year, Blue Cross announced it had contributed $230 million in support for its members, employer customers, providers and the Alabama community in general during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those contributions were made in support of “food scarcity, small business loans, personal protective equipment and meals for health care works and other relief efforts across the state.”
Some programs receiving support include: United Way Meals on Wheels, Alabama Food Bank, Birmingham Strong, American Red Cross, Alabama Department of Public Health, Jefferson County Department of Health and other local community foundations.
The $80 million in premium discount relief is in addition to the previous contributions, the press release said.
This story has been corrected to show that health insurance premiums are discounted 20% and dental insurance premiums are discounted 50%, not the other way around.