Blue KC Recognized for Health and Wellness Focus: June 2009

June 01, 2009

Kansas City, MO.—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) has been recognized by two separate well-known national organizations for the company's internal health and wellness focus! The American Heart Association named Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly company and The Wellness Councils of America (Welcoa) awarded the health insurance company the gold designation as one of America's Healthiest Companies.

American Heart Association Start! Fit-Friendly Company

Blue KC has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association's Start! movement for helping its employees eat better and move more.

Blue KC is among 15 companies in the Greater Kansas City area nominated as a Start! Fit-Friendly company, and the only company in Kansas City awarded the Platinum level. It is also the only Kansas City company to receive the Innovation in the Workplace Award by the same organization, which it received for its Walk Across Blue Cross program, a program designed to motivate and incentivize employees to exercise the equivalent of 800 miles in a year.

The Platinum-level designation recognizes Blue KC as an employer that:

• Offers employees physical activity options in the workplace
• Increases healthy eating options at the worksite
• Promotes a wellness culture in the workplace
• Demonstrates measurable outcomes related to workplace wellness
• Wellness Councils of America's America's Healthiest Companies

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has also been ranked with a Gold designation by the Wellness Councils of America (Welcoa) for its commitment to maximizing employee health and well-being. Out of a possible 200 points in seven benchmark categories, the company received 176.07 points! Benchmarks included:

• Capturing CEO support
• Creating cohesive wellness teams
• Collecting data to drive health efforts
• Crafting an operating plan
• Choosing appropriate interventions
• Creating a supportive environment
• Consistently evaluating outcomes

"Physical activity and employee wellness are important priorities at Blue KC, and we are pleased and excited to be recognized by these two reputable organizations," said Sherri Enright, Vice President - Human Resources. "We have been and will continue to be committed to providing the best workplace environment possible through our A Healthier You program which benefits our employees' health and produces even more positive results for our company overall."

About Blue KC

Blue KC, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in the state and the only not-for-profit health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue KC provides health coverage to nearly 900,000 residents in the greater Kansas City area and Northwest Missouri. Blue KC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on our company, visit our website at www.BlueKC.com. Our mission statement: We will use our role as the area's leading health insurer to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health and wellness of our members.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, we're the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. To help prevent, treat and defeat these diseases — America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers — we fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.americanheart.org.

About the Wellness Councils of America

The Wellness Councils of America is one of North America's most trusted voices on the topic of worksite wellness. With nearly two decades of experience, WELCOA is widely recognized and highly regarded for its innovative approach to worksite wellness. Through their internationally recognized Well Workplace awards initiative, WELCOA has helped hundreds of companies transform their corporate cultures and improve the health and well-being of their most valuable asset – their employees.

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