Who owns bcbs

In , the plan got a name and a logo: Blue Cross. It became known as Blue Shield. Few commercial companies offered health insurance then.

Just like now, Blue Cross and Blue Shield put people before profits. These affordable, prepaid insurance plans quickly became popular around the country. It would be called the Michigan Medical Service. The two worked together in on bills to regulate prepaid health care plans and make them nonprofit, like community-based hospitals.

In the Detroit Times , Governor Luren Dickinson said, "I signed these bills with much satisfaction because they form the foundation of a new service which will afford to families of moderate income the assurance of adequate medical attention and hospitalization. By , the Michigan Medical Service was open for business. The Michigan Society for Group Hospitalization already had more than , customers from employers.

We are the largest and most experienced health insurance company in the state, providing more than 8. Vendor Code of Conduct. Helping our members and communities to be healthy and well is part of our mission. Our outreach efforts are a cornerstone of our business — a key part of the foundation for a better health care system for everyone. Our employees are committed to the wellness of the millions of people our policies cover, and they work to develop and support innovative products that address our members' changing needs.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois wants all Americans to have access to quality, affordable health care. Welcome Employers Producers Providers. Breastfeeding Counseling. Contact Us Email. The lawsuits allege BCBS insurers' " cartel-like " operations limit competition and drive up premiums. One case was brought on behalf of healthcare providers and the other on behalf of individual and small-employer customers.

The suits were combined into one claim by a federal judicial panel in Alabama and the plaintiffs are now seeking class-action status. BCBS denied the allegations. It says their licensing model — which gives companies exclusive rights to use the BCBS brand in specific regions — is not unlawful and has been in existence for decades without previous antitrust action.

The case comes down to the judicial interpretation of the BCBS model. Whether BCBS is a franchise or was purposefully designed to reduce competition is the crux of the case, according to Barak D. Richman, a Duke law professor. The plaintiffs have conflicting interests.

Glenn Melnick, a professor at the University of Southern California, pointed out in The Wall Street Journal that higher reimbursement rates are of interest for providers, but would lead to higher premiums for customers. No judgments have been made on the merits of the case, but it was not dismissed last year by U. District Judge R. David Proctor, who said the plaintiffs "have alleged a viable market-allocation scheme.

Payers were ranked based on metrics such as days in accounts receivable, claim resolution rate, denial rate and more. BCBS plans were rated the No. Power Member Health Plan Study. The study is based on consumer responses in six categories: coverage and benefits, provider choice, information and communication, claims processing, cost and customer service. CareFirst BCBS announced in May it was the victim of a cyberattack that potentially compromised the data of almost one-third of its customers — 1.