Health Comes First on Back to School Checklist Its important, its required, and this year it may cost

less. Jacksonville, FL, August 02, 2011 -- It may not be first on your childs back-to-s chool checklist, but it should be. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida reminds par ents that now is the time to confirm health exam and immunization requirements f or first-time and returning students for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. So before clothes, before supplies, check with your childs school about whats requ ired, and give yourself enough time to schedule whatever exams and vaccinations are needed before school starts. And this year, you may get a budget break, tha nks to the Affordable Care Act. Health Plans Now Cover Co-Pays for A Dozen Childrens Immunization Services In keeping with its In Pursuit of Health mission, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Flor ida wants Floridians to know that, under the national health reform legislation known as the Affordable Care Act, health plans now offer full coverage for a var iety of preventive care services for children without having to pay a copayment or co-insurance or meet deductibles. They include exams and immunizations that may be required for attendance at Florida schools. Below is a list of immunizat ion vaccines for children from birth to age 18 now fully covered by health plans such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. A full list of covered preventive services for children and adults under the Affordable Care Act can be found at: http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/preventive/index.html. Compare these w ith requirements at your childs school, and you may find you wont have a copay thi s year for your childs immunizations. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Haemophilus influenzae type b Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Human Papillomavirus Inactivated Poliovirus Influenza Measles, Mumps, Rubella Meningococcal Pneumococcal Rotavirus Varicella Other Sources for Savings: For those without health insurance, or on Medicaid, Federal and state programs m ay be of help in providing free immunizations for your child. Learn more by vis iting these sites: http://www.immunizeflorida.org; http://www.doh.state.fl.us/c hdsitelist.htm; or contact your local county Health Department. Free childrens s ports physicals may also be available through local Health Departments and other community minded organizations. These include Florida Blue retail centers in Mi ami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, which are hosting free ba ck-to-school carnival events in August. For a Florida Blue events calendar, vis it www.floridablue.com. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida: In Pursuit of Health Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Floridas health industry, de dicated to providing progressive health solutions to support all Floridians in t heir pursuit of health. Through wellness education, personal interaction and guid ance, community involvement and a variety of cost-conscious health coverage opti ons, we strive to promote health and well-being throughout the state of Florida.

Our Florida Blue centers provide an interactive environment where consumers can purchase health insurance, have face-to-face consultations, take advantage of ba sic health screenings and wellness lectures, and learn about various health care options fit for any budget. Learn more at www.floridablue.com. Since 1944, the company has worked to meet the diverse needs of all those it ser ves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-own ed, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an associati on of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information con cerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at www.bcbsfl.com. Contact: Michelle Catin Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. 4800 Deerwood Campus Pkwy Jacksonville, FL 32246-6498 800-477-3736 michelle.catin@rbbpr.com http://www.floridablue.com