Blog

In today’s fast paced world, it’s all about convenience. Technology in recent years has given us the ability to communicate and access information in ways most of us never thought possible.  Blue Cross & Blue Shield of MS has always been a leader in the insurance industry when it comes to innovative ideas and implementing new technologies to make life easier for their members.  The introduction of the myBlue App in April of this year is no exception.

• Have you ever arrived at a doctor’s appointment and realized you have misplaced your insurance ID card?  You now have a virtual ID card readily accessible on your smartphone.
• Has your physician ever prescribed a new medication for you and it wasn’t until you reached the pharmacy that you realized just how much this new medication would cost?  Now find prescription drug information including copays and lower cost alternatives before you ever leave your doctor’s office.
• Have you ever been out of town when you or your child suddenly became injured or ill?  Use your smartphone to search for network providers near you, map their location and call the facility with one touch call capability.
• Have you ever left an urgent care facility or an emergency room outside of normal pharmacy hours and wondered where you could have your prescription(s) filled?  You can now use your smartphone to find network pharmacies in your area, including those open 24 hours a day seven days a week.
• Have you ever received a bill in the mail from a provider but you are not sure if the insurance company has processed the claim yet?  You can view up to 15 months of claims as they are paid in real time.

Now there is no need to keep track of hard copy benefit booklets or provider directories. Nor must you hold on the phone an excessive amount of time waiting to speak to a customer service representative.  With the myBlue app, you have all of this information and more right at your fingertips. 

The myBlue App is available for download free of charge through the App Store or Google Play for all iPhone and Android devices.  Feel free to contact me for assistance in downloading the myBlue App or with any other questions you may have regarding your benefits through Montgomery Enterprises, Inc.

~Kandi

One of the Internet’s strengths is its ability to help consumers find the right needle in a digital haystack of data.  ~Jared Sandberg

I would first like to take a moment to introduce myself to those whom I haven’t had the chance to meet yet. I started with MEI on August 21, 2013, and was hired for the position of Director of Employee Development. I graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication/Public Relations. Go State! I am really enjoying this company, the people in it, and what it stands for. I have been most impressed with the customer service and kindness given to the customers and that you give to each other. I’m looking forward to working with all of you.

Keeping on the subject of kindness, I would like to share a recent experience I had with a random act of kindness. A couple of Fridays ago, I stopped by the Fulton McDonalds drive-thru to get a bite of breakfast before going to work. I ordered my usual chicken biscuit and sweet tea and had the exact amount of cash ready to give the cashier. When I reached the window, the worker told me that the car in front of me had paid for my breakfast. It completely caught me off guard, especially since the only people I know in Fulton are the people that I work with. Needless to say, that random act of kindness made my day. The following Monday I paid the act forward and did the same to the car behind me in the drive –thru. As great as I felt having my breakfast paid for by a stranger, I felt even better giving someone else the experience of kindness I had received. I want to challenge all of you to do a small, random act of kindness today. A simple smile or word of encouragement could make a person’s day. Hopefully, they will pay it forward and a chain reaction of kindness will happen because of you.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”   Leo Buscaglia

Have a wonderful day!

Meredith

Yesterday was the Leadership Graduation from the class that Rubye Del Harden teaches. Each student had a tremendous final project and I enjoyed listening and learning from each presentation. Luke and I left very inspired from these presentations and proud to have employees as dedicated as you all are. Thank you for your participation in the class and congratulations on graduating!
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

Have a great Friday and great weekend!

Louis

Most people are unaware that September 12 is the National Day of Encouragement. Following on the heels of one of the most reflected days in America which is of course September 11, the National Day of Encouragement was created in 2007.

In June 2007, a group of high school students in Arkansas were presented a challenge. At the National Leadership Forum being held that year, they were asked to create an idea that would make the world better. They concluded that most problems, such as drugs and alcohol, start with discouragement. This led them to the idea of having a day dedicated to encouraging one another. Then President George W. Bush signed the declaration, making September 12 the official “National Day of Encouragement.”

One of my favorite quotes simply says “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Be Kind. Always.”  So, on this day, celebrate the National Day of Encouragement by performing a random act of kindness.  Call, text or email a friend or family member that you haven’t connected with in awhile, tell someone they are doing a good job and most of all don’t forget to smile.  In this great big world, YOU can make a difference.

Rachel

When I hear this date, my thoughts quickly turn to the tragic events that took place 12 years ago today.  Most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing that morning.  I was living in a suburb of Jackson, MS at the time.  It was during my early morning commute downtown when I heard on the radio that the first plane had flown into the north tower.  By the time I made it to my office on the 10^th floor I walked in just in time to see the second plane hit the south tower on live television.   The horrific scenes replayed again and again during the days to follow will forever be etched in my mind.  Today, and every day, we should honor those who lost their lives both during the events of September 11^th, as well as, during the long and grueling war that followed.  We should also thank those who continue to fight to protect the freedoms we hold so dear and remember the families awaiting their loved ones safe return. 

~Kandi

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  ~Elmer Davis

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.  ~José Narosky

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.  ~Cynthia Ozick

On Friday’s blog, Louis mentioned that we had a business consultant visit our home offices last week.  Most everyone who met with the consultant is thankful for the wealth of knowledge we were able to gain from his many years of professional experience.

This week we are in Savannah, GA attending a “Twenty Group” meeting in an effort to improve our “buy here pay here” dealerships.  The “Twenty Group” is made up of, suprisingly, twenty “buy here pay here” dealers from across the country who meet three times a year to compare financials, sales figures, customer service standards and a variety of other information in an effort to improve our given businesses.  No matter how good we think we are doing in business we always find we have much more to learn.

Some people complain of “constant change” but we prefer to look at it as “continuous improvement”.  If you are not moving forward then you are actually falling behind.

I hope everyone has a successful week. — Luke

“Improvement begins with I”.  Arnold Glasgow

Luke and I spent the last three days meeting with a business consultant that has been very successful in an industry similar to ours.  He was very impressed with the cleanliness and neatness of all of our locations that he was able to visit.  The consultant believes that these two qualities have played a huge role in his success.  Thank you all for the great job you are doing in making your office appearance among the best in our industry!

Let everyone sweep in front of his own door, and the whole world will be clean.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goeth

Have a great day–Louis

With Labor Day weekend upon us I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the hard work and effort you put in on a daily basis to serve your customers.  You play an important role in your customers’ lives and I know they appreciate you very much.  Thanks again for being there for your customers.

I hope everyone enjoys the Labor Day Holiday.  Be careful and have fun! — Luke

“The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.”  Elbert Hubbard

PS-  I hope those who attended the Manager Meeting recently are enjoying the books.  I have received some positive feedback already.

I received a picture by text message this weekend that brought a big smile to my face and I wanted to share with everyone else….Ricky and Melissa are married!!  I would like to wish them all the happiness in the world.  Melissa, you deserve it!!!

A reception will be held for friends and family on September 8th from 2-4pm at the Ballardsville Baptist Church.  Each of you are invited to attend.    ~Rachel

I was recently visiting with a friend of mine who manages a small regional hospital.  I was venting to him about a bad customer service experience that I had recently received from the health care industry.  He explained that next to patient safety their customer service is the most important thing to his hospital.

He informed me that the most important part of their customer service was correcting mistakes properly after they occur.  Customers who had visited his hospital and experienced some type of problem, but had it addressed in a timely and proper manner rated their experience with the hospital more favorable than the customers who had dealings with the hospital and didn’t experience any problems at all.

His management team created a term, Service Recovery, and an action plan to address mistakes made by his staff.  He concluded that they now see these mistakes as an opportunity to offer exceptional customer service.

One thing we can be assured of is we will make mistakes as we deal with our customers everyday, but I hope we can take the approach of the company mentioned above and look at these mistakes as opportunities to leave a lasting impression of exceptional customer service.

Learn from the mistakes of others–you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself  – Martin Vanbee

He who makes no mistake never makes anything.  -English Proverb

Have a great day….Louis