BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION (BCBSA)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)

Introduction

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is a state-run alliance of 39 independent BCBSA companies which are community-based and domestically operated. This alliance provides health insurance to over 100 million citizens of America. Blue cross was started in 1929 where as Blue Shield was formed in 1939. Blue Cross Association was formed in 1960, while its counterpart Blue Shield was already established in 1948. These two organizations formed an alliance in 1982, which is now known as BCBSA. The headquarters of the company is situated in Michigan Plaza, Chicago, Illinois with offices in different states employing more than 1000 employees (www.bcbs.com).

Discussion

History

Both of these companies grew separately. Blue Cross was used as a brand name by an association who planned to provide health insurance in the United States. The initial plan guaranteed the teachers of Texas that 21 days of healthcare would against a fee of $6 per year. On the other hand, Blue Shield was founded in 1939, by employers in mining camps and lumbers of the Pacific Northwest region. Their aim was to provide medical care to everyone by paying physicians and hospitals a certain amount of monthly fees (www.bcbs.com). Thus, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield are amongst the oldest and largest health care provider of the country. They are also well known and the most recognized names in the industry of health insurance.

The two organizations merged in 1982 and now it has been more than 80 years that the association is serving the health insurance, and medical care needs of around 100 million people in America. A brief summary of the events occurring after the merger are given below in chronological order:

1984: Blue Shield of California became the first health care provides to cover the expenses incurred a heart transplant at the Stanford University Hospital. In the later years BCBSA established the Technology Evaluation Center pioneering the use of using scientific criteria for the assessment of medical technologies.

1994: Blue Card was launched which enabled the members to receive the same healthcare services if they are travelling to other Plan's service area.

2003: The system-wide number of enrollments in the BCBSA reached more than 88 million people. Making it almost an achievement for BCBSA that it covers nearly one out of 3 Americans.

2004: BCBSA launched BlueWorldwide Expat which enabled the workers of U.S based companies operating aboard, to receive medical coverage.

2006: BCBSA launched Blue Health Intelligence (BHI). This resource was developed for the improvement of healthcare quality through sharing critical information regarding healthcare. Initially, it provided information to the employers only, whereas, the consumers and providers were also provided this opportunity after sometime.

2009: The over count of BCBSA's enrollments exceeded 100 million people across America (.www.bcbs.com)

The Current BCBSA

Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance are independent associations providing insurance plans within specified regions under the name of either of the brands. In almost every state of the United States BCBS insurer offers some sort ...