PINEHURST, NC, and DALLAS, December 27, 2005 - FirstCarolinaCare, Inc. and Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS) today announced an alliance to provide integrated Health Savings Account (HSA) products and services in conjunction with high-deductible health plans offered through FirstCarolinaCare.
FirstCarolinaCare offers a variety of high-deductible Point of Service (POS) plans that can be coupled with HSAs, which allow participants to set aside tax-favored funds to help pay for qualified medical expenses. Through its relationship with Mellon Financial Corporation, ACS is a leading provider in HSAs, offering a complete range of services for health plans and employers and interest-bearing, FDIC-insured accounts for individuals.
"Employers can save substantial premium dollars on their health coverage by choosing one of our HSA POS plans, and their employees have the opportunity to accumulate and control tax-favored savings" said Rebecca Ballard, FirstCarolinaCare´s Manager of Sales and Account Management.
"HSAs represent an important new approach for addressing spiraling health care costs," said Gregg Larson, Principal and ACS´ National HSA Product Leader. "We are proud to join with FirstCarolinaCare to deliver our full-service solution to its customers."
FirstCarolinaCare´s HSA POS plans give members the opportunity to save money on their annual premiums while allowing them to put funds aside in an HSA to help offset their medical costs. Members can receive care from most doctors and hospitals without referrals. Certain preventive tests and screenings, such as mammograms and prostate screenings, are covered without incurring a deductible while most other benefits, including prescription drugs, are subject to a deductible.
The ACS Mellon HSA Solution includes a full range of available financial services, such as a checking account to pay for qualified medical expenses, an available investment account to save unused deposits, and IRS-required tax reporting. The product also provides health plan services such as customer service, online tools, employee education, and enrollment support.
About the ACS Mellon HSA Solution and ACS
ACS offers integrated health care funding solutions for health plans, employers and employees in conjunction with Mellon Financial Corporation. ACS markets and distributes the ACS Mellon HSA Solution and is responsible for customer service and client relationship management. Mellon is responsible for custodian services, recordkeeping, reporting, technology, and asset management.
Mellon Financial Corporation, a global financial services company, is headquartered in Pittsburgh and is one of the world's leading providers of financial services for institutions, corporations and high net worth individuals, providing institutional asset management, mutual funds, private wealth management, asset servicing, payment solutions and investor services, and treasury services. Mellon has approximately $4.5 trillion in assets under management, administration or custody, including $766 billion under management. Its asset management companies include The Dreyfus Corporation and U.K.-based Newton Investment Management Limited. News and other information about Mellon is available at www.mellon.com.
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (ACS) is a FORTUNE 500 company with more than 55,000 people supporting client operations in nearly 100 countries. ACS provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The Company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS". ACS makes technology work. Visit ACS on the Internet at http://www.acs-inc.com.
About FirstCarolinaCare, Inc.
FirstCarolinaCare is a not-for-profit health plan providing a variety of health benefit options and funding arrangements for employers in a six-county region in south central North Carolina. Established in 2000, FirstCarolinaCare serves more than 11,000 members and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstHealth of the Carolinas with hospitals in Moore, Montgomery, and Richmond counties. FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital was recently named a Solucient Top 100 hospital. FirstCarolinaCare has distinguished itself from competitors by working closely with employer groups to reduce health care costs through emphasizing employee health screenings, preventive care, and education. For more information or for a quote from FirstCarolinaCare, contact a local insurance broker or visit http://www.firstcarolinacare.com/.
Contacts:
Ed Gadowski
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.
(201) 902-2825
Edward.Gadowski[at]buckconsultants.com
Amy Myers
FirstHealth of the Carolinas
(910) 715-5376
amyers[at]firsthealth.org
Source: HRmarketer.com