Blue Cross Travel Insurance

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association ( BCBSA ) is a federation of 39 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of Blue Shield dates to 1939. The Blue Cross Association dates back to 1960, while its Blue Shield counterpart was actually created in 1948. The two organizations merged in 1982, forming the current association.

History

Blue Cross is a name used by an association of health insurance plans throughout the United States. Its predecessor was developed in 1929, by Justin Ford Kimball, at Baylor University in Dallas, Texas. The first plan guaranteed teachers 21 days of hospital care for $6 a year, and was later extended to other employee groups in Dallas, and then nationally. The American Hospital Association (AHA) adopted the Blue Cross symbol in 1939 as the emblem for plans meeting certain standards. In 1960 the AHA commission was superseded by the Blue Cross Association. Affiliation with the AHA was severed in 1972.

The Blue Shield concept was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by employers in lumber and mining camps of the Pacific Northwest to provide medical care by paying monthly fees to medical service bureaus composed of groups of physicians. The first official Blue Shield Plan was founded in California in 1939. In 1948 the symbol was informally adopted by nine plans called the Associated Medical Care Plan, and was later renamed the National Association of Blue Shield Plans.

In 1982 Blue Shield merged with The Blue Cross Association to form the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Since the Tax Reform Act of 1986, organizations administering Blue Cross Blue Shield plans lost their full tax-exempt status. They became 501(m) organizations, subject to federal taxation but entitled to "special tax benefits." Some plans are still considered not-for-profit at the state level.

Current organization

Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield insurance companies are franchisees, independent of the association (and traditionally each other), offering insurance plans within defined regions under one or both of the association's brands. Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers offer some form of health insurance coverage in every U.S. state. They also act as administrators of Medicare in many states or regions of the U.S., and provide coverage to state government employees as well as to the federal government employees under a nationwide option of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan.

The 14-state WellPoint is the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield member, and is a publicly traded company. Other multi-state organizations include CareFirst in the Mid-Atlantic and The Regence Group in the Pacific Northwest. The largest non-investor owned member is Health Care Service Corporation, which operates four Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in the Midwest and Southwest.

List of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies

Details on specific organizations

Idaho

BlueCross of Idaho and Regence BlueShield of Idaho are separate companies and compete head to head throughout the state.

North Carolina

In the past Blue Cross Blue Shield has been sued and fined for denying due medical treatments to their customers and for underpaying doctors.

In May 2009, BCBS licensee, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, readied an ad campaign against the introduction of government-run health care, legislation to be introduced to Congress by President Barack Obama, although the BCBSNC CEO said that the company was in favor of reforming the current system.

Pennsylvania

Though historically "Blue Cross" was used for hospital coverage while "Blue Shield" was used for medical coverage, today that split only exists for traditional health insurance plans in eastern Pennsylvania, where Independence Blue Cross (Philadelphia) and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania each have joint marketing agreements with Highmark Blue Shield (Pittsburgh) for their separate hospital and medical plans. However, Independence Blue Cross, like most of its sister Blue Cross-Blue Shield companies, cover most of their customers under managed care plans such as HMOs and PPOs which provide hospital and medical care in one policy.

References

1. ^ Scott P. Serota page on BCBSA Web site
2. ^ ^{a b} Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Company Profile from Yahoo!
3. ^ BCBSA About Us page
4. ^ ^{a b} Justin Ford Kimball from the Handbook of Texas Online . Retrieved August 31, 2009.
5. ^ "History of BCBSA" . http://www.bcbs.com/about/history/1980s.html .  
6. ^ "Blue Cross: 501(m)". Consumers Union . http://www.consumersunion.org/conv/nonprofit_health_inc/tax_status/blue_cross/index.html . "As of January 1, 1987, the federal government removed the full tax-exempt status of BCBS plans and instead created a special tax class for BCBS organizations, Internal Revenue Code ("I.R.C.") 5833. The new I.R.C. category subjected BCBS plans to federal taxation but recognized the unique role BCBS plans play. Under I.R.C. 5833 the BCBS plans, unlike commercial for-profit insurers, are entitled to special tax benefits."  
7. ^ United States Office of Personal Management, 2010 Nationwide Fee-for-Service Open to All
8. ^ The Regence Group
9. ^ "BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina's Desperate Attempt to Deceive". Media Matters for America. May 19. 2009 . http://mediamattersaction.org/factcheck/200905190001 .  
10. ^ "BCBSNC ready to help shape health care reform," Charlotte Observer , June 10, 2009 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/408/story/771829.html

Travel Insurance

Whether you’re arriving or departing…Take us along. Canadian Travel Coverage. Out of Canada emergency medical expenses are not generally covered by your provincial ...

...

Québec Blue Cross - Travel Insurance, Health Insurance

Québec Blue Cross is one of the most trusted providers of health and travel insurance in Canada.

...

Ontario Blue Cross - Travel Insurance, Health Insurance

Ontario Blue Cross is one of the most trusted providers of health and travel insurance in Canada.

...

Alberta Blue Cross - Individual travel coverage

Alberta Blue Cross covers prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, ambulance and travel emergencies, plus life, disability and accident insurance, through Blue Cross Life ...

...

Blue Cross Travel Insurance

Welcome: Business 2 Business: Distributor Login: If you are registered Blue Cross Distributor, please enter your distributor number and password to login to our Business to ...

...

Ontario/Canada Travel Insurance | Ontario Blue Cross

Blue Cross is one of the most recognized travel insurance providers worldwide.

...

Blue Cross Travel Insurance

Travel insurance: get-a-quote on-line. Whether you are a Canadian resident or a Visitor to Canada, Blue Cross has a travel insurance plan to meet your needs, including protection ...

...

Blue Cross Travel Insurance - On-line purchase

When it comes to Travel Insurance, Blue Cross is likely the first name that comes to mind. No matter what your trip entails, Blue Cross has a travel insurance plan to meet your ...

...

Blue Cross - Annual Travel Insurance

1. Thank you for using Blue Cross online insurance application service. You are strongly recommended to read the help message first if it is the first time you use this online ...

...

Blue Cross Travel Insurance in Ontario Canada

Ontario Blue Cross Travel Insurance for Visitors to Canada, Landed Immigrants, International Students, and Medical Insurance for Groups. Buy-online or by phone.

...