BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee today announced its recent contract to provide health insurance benefits to more than 11,000 employees, plus their dependents, of Nissan North America, Inc.s (NNA) U.S. manufacturing operations.
BlueCross will cover employees at Nissan plants in Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn., as well as Canton, Miss.
"We are very proud to be able to serve the national account needs of Nissan," said Joan Harp, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. "Through our national accounts program and our network of 42 Blue plans, we have the flexibility and ability to offer exemplary and seamless service."
Nissan awarded the contract to BlueCross after a competitive ten-month bidding process involving the nations largest insurance companies.
"We are looking forward to working with BlueCross as they assist us in providing health care benefits to our employees," said Marlin Chapman, director of human resources for Nissan.
The contract is an administrative services arrangement that calls for BlueCross to handle claims processing and administration for the self-funded employer. The contract goes into effect Jan. 1, 2003.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the state's leader in health care financing. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based not-for-profit company now serves more than 4.3 million people. The company paid more than 42 million claims and $11.7 billion in health care benefits in 2001. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has more than 4,300 employees. For more information on BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, visit the company's Web site at www.bcbst.com.
In North America, NNA's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.