Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is a national federation comprised of 39 independent and locally owned and operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies and currently provide insurance coverage to more than 100 million Americans which is nearly one in three Americans.
BCBS’ nationwide network consists of contracts with more than 90 percent of hospitals and 80 percent of physicians; larger than any other insurer.
Blue Cross Blue Shield A Little Bit of History
Blue Cross was established 80 years ago and is probably one of the most recognized names in health care. Justin Ford Kimball founded the prototype prepaid health plan that would be the basis of Blue Cross plans in 1929 at Baylor University in Dallas, TX; it originally was established to meet the needs that were apparent during the Great Depression and was meant to offer 1,300 school teachers in Dallas, TX 21 days of hospital care that would be financed by small monthly payments. In 1954 the first “Blue Cross baby” was born to a woman who had maternity benefits included in her family’s health insurance plan and paid a total of $60.00 for the delivery and the entire 10 day hospital stay.
Blue Cross Blue Shield – Historical Milestones
Blue Cross has been at the forefront of many of our nation’s technological and historical advancements. Blue Cross and Blue Shield played an integral role in the 1965 creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs in which would have been prohibited if it weren’t for the BCBS infrastructure that led to their continued processing of the majority of claims totaling $163 billion in 2001. The first heart transplant covered by a health plan was in 1984 by Blue Cross of California at Stanford University and propelled the creation of Blue Quality Centers for Transplant in the following decade. The Technology Evaluation Center was founded in 1985 and developed a process by which medical technologies were assessed utilizing scientific process. Further, in 2006 Blue Distinction was launched, a program created to provide healthcare transparency.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida is our states local franchise of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and you can read more about it by following our link or by visiting our Florida health insurance section our biggest most comprehensive state..
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia has been a stable source of health insurance in the state of Georgia health insurance since the 1930’s, offering plans to cover families and individuals for health care, dental, vision, and more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is another Anthem run Blue Cross Blue Shield company and you can read more about it at our Texas health insurance page.
