Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to Continue Member Preventative Care Benefits

Berlin, Vermont — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont actively promotes member access to preventative care. The health plan will continue to cover zero-cost share preventative services despite the recent ruling of the Texas Fifth Circuit in the case of Braidwood Management, Inc. v. Becerra. Heart disease and cancer screenings, reproductive health, family planning, vaccinations, and preexposure prophylaxis for HIV will continue to be covered for members in the same manner as they are today. To view the Blue Cross VT preventative care guide, visit the plan’s website.

“The increasingly polarized view of the Courts is concerning for the fundamental health of our citizens,” said Don George, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. “For more than 40 years, our nonprofit health plan has had a simple, powerful mission: make health care work better for all Vermonters. The decision in this case attempts to send the United States back decades in our progress toward supporting a healthier population.”

Every health plan weighs the cost to member premiums with the potential health impact of the benefit. It’s a careful process, as the affordability crisis that stems from ballooning hospital and drug costs grows year over year, impacting Vermonters’ ability to seek the care they need. Patient access to preventative care helps to stem both the cost of an increased reliance on hospital interventions and the devastating heartache that can come from missing regular health screenings.

Blue Cross VT is committed to member access to preventative care. Patients deserve consistent coverage of preventative services at zero cost across the entire system of care. This will build patient confidence that they can afford these services, reducing barriers to health and wellness, and improving health outcomes. Sexually transmitted infection screenings are critical to to population and individual health. Preexposure prophylaxis for HIV is a recognized preventive service that has curbed the spread of a deadly disease. The Braidwood Decision will not negatively impact anyone who holds a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont health plan.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is Vermont’s only local, not-for-profit health plan. For over 40 years, the company has been enhancing the health and well-being of the Vermonters we serve by offering innovative plans to individuals, older Vermonters, and businesses. Our employees are dedicated to developing new ways to support high-quality care, programs, and events that promote wellness. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.