Capital BlueCross Goes National ...( HARRISBURG Pa. May 21 /- As fast-...),Health

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- As fast-food marketers launch programs across the United States to promote fried chicken breakfast sandwiches to a time-pressured society -- one that is already challenged to find time for exercise -- Capital BlueCross is responding by extending an innovative local health program to its growing membership base across the state and the nation.

Two years ago, the company launched the Capital BlueCross Healthy Family Fun program, an initiative to promote travel-guide style local activities that encourage members and their families to get up, get out, and get active for an hour or a day. The initiative also provides cardholders with special discounts on everything from athletic equipment to ski lift tickets and amusement park passes, savings on sports and theatre events, and significant savings on health club memberships, exercise coaching, nutrition and weight counseling, alternative therapies, and other family health services.

Now, Capital BlueCross in partnership with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is expanding the program through a national version called Blue365.

"In the last few years, our membership outside the service area has nearly doubled as more statewide and national employers work with us to take advantage of the global Blue Plan network," said Anita M. Smith, President & CEO of Capital BlueCross. "Since our local members and participating businesses gave us a strong 'thumbs up' for the Healthy Family Fun program, we felt it was the right move to extend the values, particularly in health related programs, to our members across the country."

All visitors to the Capital BlueCross Web site at http://www.capbluecross.com can search the Healthy Family Fun opportunities by location or type of activity, while Capital BlueCross members can obtain local discounts by presenting their membership cards at time of purchase. Blue
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