EAGAN, Minn., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has recognized Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) with its 2006 Plan Excellence Award for Service in its Federal Employee Program (FEP), which covers approximately 67,000 Minnesotans.

The Service Award honors Blue Cross plans that excel in claims timeliness, timeliness and accuracy in resolving customer and provider inquiries, timeliness and accuracy in resolving appeals, timeliness in initiating refunds, and telephone responsiveness.

"Receiving the FEP Service Excellence Award is indicative of the dedication shown by our claims, customer service, IS and consumer service center staffs in providing a high level of service," said Doug Wobbema, FEP director for Blue Cross. "We're very proud of the work we do in Minnesota serving the many dedicated federal employees who have chosen FEP as their health care insurance plan."

FEP is a national program that is standard across BCBSA member plans and provides health benefits for federal employees, their families, and retirees. There are 62 FEP service areas in the nation. FEP plans currently cover more than half of all federal employees and retirees nationwide, and approximately two thirds of the federal employees living in Minnesota. The plans are part of the overall program known as the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program administered by the Office of Personnel Management, a federal agency.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.7 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to http://www.bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

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Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota