Blue Shield to Offer Health Plan in Mexico

Blue Shield of California will be licensed by the state to provide health services to employees on both sides of the Mexican border. Gov. Gray Davis made the announcement during opening ceremonies for the 18th annual Border Governors Conference in Sacramento. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 Mexicans cross the border each day to work legally in the San Diego area. Many prefer to receive health care in Mexico because it is more convenient and cheaper and health care workers are more likely to speak Spanish. Blue Shield will work with a Mexican insurance company, General de Seguros, and three Tijuana hospitals to market the health plan, Access Baja HMO, to California employers. The plan allows Blue Shield members who are either U.S. or Mexican citizens, and who live within 40 miles of the border, to receive their care in Tijuana.

*

Guide to Our Staff: Need to reach Business section reporters or editors? A guide to the section’s staff can be found at: https://www.latimes.com/bizstaff.