Facts about the Michigan Blues

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan founded: 1939
• Total employees: 7,097
• Members: 4.4 million in Michigan and 1.1 million outside the state
• Benefits paid to physicians, hospitals and other health care providers in 2011: $18.2 billion
• Claims processed annually: more than 84 million

Did you know?

• With 158 hospitals and nearly 30,000 physicians, the Michigan Blues network is the largest in the state.
• Since 2009, the Blues' Patient-Centered Medical Home program has been changing health care by taking a holistic approach to patient care. The approach is working. By the end of 2011, the program more than doubled in size, reaching approximately 2,600 physicians in 774 practices throughout Michigan.
• Our pharmacy benefit management programs saved nearly $400 million in 2011.
• BlueHealthConnection^® savings for 2011 reached more than $90 million by helping members stay healthier.
• Over a three-year period beginning in 2008, four Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Collaborative Quality Initiatives — covering general surgery, bariatric surgery, angioplasty and cardiac surgery performed in Michigan hospitals — lowered complication and mortality rates for thousands of patients and saved $232.8 million in health care costs.

During 2011, the Michigan Blues...

• Paid $18.2 billion in health care benefits for its members.
• Continued to address the concern of childhood obesity with our Building Healthy Communities program by providing grants of up to $50,000 to 24 elementary schools throughout the state. The grants increased physical activity and improved nutrition for students.
• Launched the B-Well program, offering resources, education and support tools to help our employees reach their health goals. As part of the program, more than 4,000 employees signed up for an online walking program called Walkingspree, logging more than 1 billion steps through the end of 2011.
• Helped our participating customers and their employees lose more than five tons of weight – more than 11,500 pounds – through our Win by Losing competition. The successful program offers a range of online health and wellness information, including healthy living tool kits, exercise videos, meal plans and recipes.