Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association was formed in the 1982 with the merger of the Blue Cross Association and the National Association of Blue Shield Plans. It operates as an organization of 38 regional health insurance companies working independently in the US (including the Puerto Rico ). It is headquartered in Chicago , Illinois . Blue Cross - Blue Shield plans are linked to the evolution of managed health care in the country.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance companies are independent of the each other. They sell insurance plans within definite regions under the association's brands. Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurers operate in every US state offering some type of health insurance coverage.

Some form of the health insurance coverage is being provided by Blue Cross - Blue Shield's subsidiaries in every US state. They often provide the group coverage services to the state government employees, along-with the U.S. Federal government under a nationwide option established by the association on their behalf known as the FEHBP (Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan). This shows that a very strong link exists connects the Blue Cross-Blue Shield & the bodies making the health insurance policies at the US Government's highest levels.

During the course of the time some of the independent subsidiaries of the Blue Cross - Blue Shield have combined to attain economies of scale. Large nos. of plans had been provided by the not-for-profit and for-profit subsidiaries. WellPoint is the largest Blue Cross-Blue Shield member operating in 14 states . The Regence Group in the Pacific Northwest & CareFirst in the Mid-Atlantic are some of the other organizations operating in multiple states.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association generated revenues amounting to US$182.7 billion during the year 2003.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies include:

• WellPoint
• Blue Cross of California
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia
• Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield ( New York )
• Empire Blue Cross ( New York )
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
• CareFirst
• Parts of Virginia
• Columbia District
• Maryland
• Highmark
• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield ( Western Pennsylvania )
• Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield ( West Virginia )
• Highmark Blue Shield ( Pennsylvania - Eastern & Central Parts)
• Health Care Service Corporation
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico
• Premera
• Washington ( Premera Blue Cross )
• Alaska ( Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska )
• Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• South Dakota
• Iowa
• The Regence Group
• Idaho ( Regence BlueShield of Idaho )
• Washington ( Regence BlueShield)
• Utah ( Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah )
• Oregon ( Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon )
• Puerto Rico
• Triple-S ( Blue Shield )
• La Cruz Azul de Puerto Rico ( Blue Cross)

Regional companies of Blue Cross Blue Shield:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
• Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
• Blue Shield of California
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
• Blue Cross of Idaho
• Hawaii Medical Services Association
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City ( Missouri )
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
• Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey
• Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield ( New York State )
• Blue Shield of Northeastern New York
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Western New York
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Dakota
• Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Capital Blue Cross (Central Pennsylvania )
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
• Independence Blue Cross ( Philadelphia , Pennsylvania )
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield ( West Virginia )
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming