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Highmark Blue Shield (www.highmarkblueshield.com) will assume responsibility for administering the University health plan effective January 1, 2008. The extensive network available from Highmark Blue Shield, as well as Blue Cross/Blue Shield Associations throughout the country, allow the University to consolidate the many different health plans currently offered to faculty and staff into a single health plan; the Penn State PPOBlue plan.

The PPOBlue plan continues to provide HMO-type coverage, such as $10 co-payments for visits to your family doctor and $15 for visits to specialists, while extending your choices of healthcare providers. Since no Primary Care Physicians are required for PPOBlue, you may seek care from health care providers without a need for a referral or without regard to network affiliation. Details about the PPOBlue plan are available from the 2009 PPOBlue Benefit Summary or 2010 PPOBlue Benefit Summary.  Additionally, residents of Centre County within certain zipcodes will want to review the Centre County Health Initiative , previously known as Home Host.

Information about the Highmark prescription drug plan is available along with links to coverage information online. To ensure you are receiving the highest level of coverage, you should strive to utilize participating providers. Please follow these instructions to assist you in locating providers throughout the United States who participate with Highmark Blue Shield.

The Highmark PPOBlue Presentation also is available for your review.