Capital BlueCross has issued the following statement in response to the proposed takeover of IBC by Highmark, approved by their respective Boards of Directors today:

“We at Capital BlueCross are focused on our mission and service to our members in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, a region we have served for over 70 years. Because we are part of the fabric of this region, we are recognized as the health insurance leader by the people of the communities we serve. In fact, Capital BlueCross successfully competes in our communities every day against companies headquartered outside of this region, by delivering customer service that is rated among the best in the nation, at outstanding value. This development does nothing to change our mission or our commitment to our communities.

“Just the leak of the possibility of a takeover led to a firestorm of protest by others, including immediate calls for investigation from the Pennsylvania legislature. Given the inevitable adverse effects of the proposed combination, we expect it will be scrutinized for its long-term effect on, among other things, health care prices, costs and access; competition; and local control over health care decisions. Experience demonstrates that the state’s health care system provides affordable, high quality health care when there is more competition, not less.

“Like everyone else, we don’t yet know all of the details of the proposed takeover plan, but we will study them carefully when they are made public and take whatever actions are appropriate consistent with our mission and to protect the interests of our constituents.”

About Capital BlueCross
Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its market, providing health insurance coverage to nearly one million people in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple, offering a variety of benefit programs and nationally acclaimed customer service at competitive prices.

The company has been serving its customers through all the stages of their life for almost 70 years and employs more than 2,300 people.

Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

More information about Capital BlueCross can be found at www.capbluecross.com.

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