Blue Cross to oversee state health plan

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia will take over as adminstrator of the state’s health benefit plan starting Jan. 1. The plan covers more than 650,000 state employees, retirees and their families.

The insurance giant will replace UnitedHealthcare and Cigna, which currently administer the plan. Health officials have said the switch will save the state an estimated $200 million a year. Express Scripts will administer pharmacy benefits for the plan, while Healthways will be in charge of wellness programs, according to a statement from the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Open enrollment is Oct. 21 through Nov. 8.