Managed Care Report

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas sold its TrailBlazer Health Enterprises (Richardson, TX) to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina (BCBSSC; Columbia, SC). BCBSSC will acquire 100% of the equity and voting interest in TrailBlazer. The acquisition makes BCBSSC the nation’s largest Medicare contractor, the company said. The company handles Medicare claims for home health in 16 states.

• Ceres Group (Cleveland) saw sales of $70 million of annualized new premium for 3Q99, compared to $16.7 million in 3Q98, the company said last week. The increase was primarily due to a larger national agent sales force as a result of new acquisitions, newly initiated marketing programs, and the release of new products through Ceres’ various insurance subsidiaries.