Not sure how I missed this, but worth posting:
Some state legislators don't like all the TV commercials from Blue Cross-Blue Shield plans. State Sen. Don White, R-Indiana, complains Highmark Inc. runs TV spots "relentlessly" in his western Pennsylvania district.He wonders why, given Highmark already dominates the health insurance market in that part of the state. He also wondered if the cost of the commercials, which include health-related public service messages, are counted as part of the Blues' social missions.
Blues plans -- Pennsylvania has four -- are nonprofits, and must fulfill a social mission in return for non-profit status.
The subject of the ads came up this week as legislators questioned Anita Smith, CEO of Susquehanna Twp.-based Capital Blue Cross. Smith said the commercials aren't counted as part of the social mission.
She also defended the need for the Blues, who compete against major for-profit insurers including Aetna and HealthAmerica, to promote their brand. And the public service spots, such as those encouraging kids to eat healthy and exercise, can eventually lower health care costs by reducing obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses, she said.
Smith appears in many of Capital's ads. "The talent comes cheap. They don't pay me for it, and they don't pay the little blue guy," she said, referring to her "Blue Man" co-star.
That seems misleading. Is Smith trying to say that she isn't being paid for being the public face of Capital Blue Cross? If not, why does she do it?
As for the blue guy, doesn't somebody get paid to create him?