Blue Reports & Issue Briefs

As the cost of medical care and prescription drugs continues to rise, so do the concerns of people and businesses challenged with keeping pace. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is here to help. We work diligently on behalf of our members to balance access to care with the cost of health care coverage – and put better health at the center of all that we do.

Many things contribute to higher health care costs, including:

• Increased use of costly technology, including high-tech imaging such as MRIs
• Rising cost of prescription drugs, and increased number of drugs prescribed
• Greater, more frequent use of the health care system overall, as the Boomer generation matures
• Unhealthy lifestyle choices – such as obesity and smoking – that create additional health issues and added costs for individuals and their families.

Everyone is a consumer when it comes to health care, so it’s important to make the right, informed decisions about the type of care needed and received. Value, treatment options, cost and predicted results are key factors to consider before purchasing medical services and medications.