BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is celebrating its one-year anniversary

Seattle ó BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is celebrating its one-year anniversary with the Free and Clear Quit For Life Program. BlueCross BlueShield launched the Quit For Life Program in April of 2006 to its 12,000 employees, with stellar results.

ìThe Quit For Life Program is very popular with our employees and their family membersónearly 900 have enrolled thus far,î said Barbara Kelly, BlueCross vice president of human resources. ìWhatís extraordinary is weíve reached quit rates that are three to six times greater than with those quitting cold turkey or using their local public health services.î

Additionally, 90 percent of BlueCross BlueShieldís employees and their dependents report being satisfied or very satisfied with the program.

ìHigh quit rates like this are very impressive in the first year of the program,î said Mary Kate Salley, Free and Clear senior vice president of client services. ìEspecially in a tobacco-producing state like South Carolina that has the sixth highest rate of smoking nationwide. We look forward to helping more South Carolinians quit using tobacco and servicing more employers in the state through our strong partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.î

Free and Clear is an award-winning program based on 20 years of research and clinical experience. The program provides one-on-one telephone-based treatment sessions with a professional Free and Clear Quit Coach(TM), as well as the latest medications (e.g. patch, gum, lozenges, and Chantix). Once enrolled, participants have support available even if they quit and start using tobacco again during the treatment program.

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. BLUECROSS and BLUESHIELD are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.