ST. LOUIS Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri has developed a new, low-cost insurance program designed to expand access care to residents who now have no health-care benefits.

The program, BasicBlue, is the first of its kind in Missouri.

"BasicBlue is another step to expand access to health-care benefits," said Roy Heimburger, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Missouri president and chief executive officer. "This program will provide affordable access to quality care for another segment of the community."

He said rates for BasicBlue coverage are considerably less expensive than amounts normally charged for Blue Cross-Blue Shield individual programs.

The program is being offered for sale initially in St. Louis city and county and the counties of St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Warren and Lincoln. The company plans to go outstate with the program later this year.

Forty-six hospitals and more than 900 physicians have joined the provider network involved in BasicBlue.

Hospitals in St. Louis city and county and throughout the state, including Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti, Reynolds County Memorial Hospital in Ellington, and Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, are participating.