The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-07-09
Gross Plar,
OF disqualification
Introduced Here

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The problem of how to 60 to
the hospital on a budget has been
solved by fhe Mississippi Hospital
and Medical Service. known as
the Blue Cross Plan, which this
week has announced extension
of the plan to Jackson county.
The non-profit organization
represents a tying together of
individuals and hospitals through
an approved installment plan hos
pital insurance. The system is
not new in Mississippi where al
nearly 100 hospitals and
communities are members nor in
the United States where Blue
Cross has spread to the major
ity of the states and to Canada.
Fundamentals of the plan are
weekly OF monthly payment
by payroll deduction or some SIM
liar system-of a small amount
which varies with the type of
contract preferred by the person
participating and in turn the hos
pital is paid directly by the or
ganization should the Individual
or members of his family require
hospital or surgical care.
In this way the Individual is
entitled to hospital benefits in
Guided in the contract without
further outlay of money in Ease of
illness or accident and the hos
pital is guaranteed payment of
the bill by the Mississippi Hos
pital and Medical Service to the
mutual advantage of the patient
and the hospital.
According to figures compiled
by this service, one out of every
ten residents of Mississippi en-
tiers a hospital each year for an
average stay of from six to eight
days. Only four percent have
the cash to pay for this hospital
ization and medical care and %
percent are outright charity pa
tients. It was for the remaining
70 percent that this plan was de-
vised.
Competent Supervision
The hospital service organiza-
ton is under the supervision of
the American Hospital Associa-
ton, the Mississippi State Board
of Insurance and a Board of Di-
rectors consisting of IL physicians,
IL hospital men and IL business
men who serve without compensa-
ton.
Membership in the service is
through employed groups totaling
five or more persons. The en-
ployee may take a single plan
providing for himself only or his
wife Cor husband) and any unmar-
ried child over three months and
under 10 years of age may be in
cluded. The plan may also in
clude any sponsored dependents,
determined by income exemption,
under 65 years old. Rural residents
may enroll through an organiza-
ton such as the Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation and such asso-
Citations.
This disqualification plan will
make it possible for more people
to use the hospital, in the opinion
of Mayor John r. Watts. secre-
tary-treasurer and a director of
the Jackson County hospital
board, and will serve to stabilize
the hospital income.
"Many persons who need hos
pital care cannot now avail them
selves of the hospital facilities be-
cause of the cost" he declared.
Under this plan a man pays a
small amount each month which
he will hardly miss and then
when illness comes to himself or
some member of his family he
need not hesitate to go to the
hospital--the bill is already paid.
If the whole bill is not taken care
of. at least the majority is COW
cred by his disqualification"
Contracts may be made for hos
pitalization only or for hospital
ization and surgery.
Should a member of the Blue
Cross plan not be near his own
hospital at the time of illness or
accident he may enter any hos
pital and the benefits as listed
under the contract will still be
paid, according to explanations
of the plan.
Miss Ida Mae Avery, enrolment
secretary for the Blue Cross Plan,
will be at the jackson County
hospital each Thursday and may
be contacted for information con-
corning this service.