Blue Cross of California has been serving the health care needs of Californians since 1937. Blue Cross of California, together with its branded affiliates, provides health care services to more than 6.8 million members.

Offering a full continuum of product and coverage options, Blue Cross provides customers with unparalleled choice and flexibility in meeting their health plan needs. These options are continually fine-tuned to enhance access to affordable, quality health care. The Company, with its strong track record for innovation, focuses on progressive products and services designed to improve the health status of all Californians. Unique product offerings available in the individual, small group, large group, senior and Medi-Cal markets include a full range of integrated medical and specialty product.

With Blue Cross, you get the basics and so much more:

• One of California's largest physician & hospital networks, giving you more choices for doctors, specialists & hospitals
• Cost savings from negotiated discounts with our network physicians & hospitals, so you save money & receive the care you need
• A variety of health care plans, so you can choose the coverage you need that fits your budget
• Protection against catastrophic medical costs with 100% coverage for in-network covered expenses, so you're protected against costly illness & injury
• $5 million per member lifetime maximum for PPO plans (after meeting annual out of pocket maximum, including deductible; 2-member maximum);unlimited lifetime maximum for HMO plans
• Coverage for preventive care services, including childhood immunizations,mammograms & prostate screening, so you remain in control of your health
• Generic prescription drug coverage on most plans (no drug coverage for BC Life & Health Basic PPO 1000)
  
• The same rates for new & returning members, so you're not penalized for remaining loyal to Blue Cross

Stability

For more than 65 years, Blue Cross of California has served the health care needs of Californians. Along with our affiliates, we now serve more than 4 million members nationwide. We've been recognized by many distinguished sources for our financial stability and are considered to be one of the leading health care companies in the nation.

More Services at No Additional Cost

As a Blue Cross member, you'll also enjoy special member services, including:

HealthyExtensions^SM program, which gives our members information about discounts offered by independent vendors on health & wellness products & services that promote a healthy lifestyle

MedCall, which offers 24/7 confidential access to registered nurses & information from an audio library via toll-free phone calls

Health management programs, which help our members & their physicians manage chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma & congestive heart failure

Get the health care coverage you need from a company you can trust.

History of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield System

1929 A Baylor University administrator set out to make health care affordable for everyone.   By creating a local hospital pre-payment plan for public school teachers, Justin Ford Kimball made medical coverage available to the general public for the first time. The idea quickly attracted nationwide attention.

1936 The Great Depression had taken its toll on the American people and health care was virtually unaffordable. A group of humanitarians, including Ritz E. Heerman and Howard Burrell, lobbied for legislation to authorize and govern hospital service plans in California. Health care would be made affordable for Californians through the Associated Hospital Service of Southern California and the Alameda County Medical Association.

1939 The Blue Cross symbol was adopted by a commission of the American Hospital Association as a national emblem for plans that met certain guidelines in covering hospital care.  

The first Blue Shield plan was founded in California in the same year to cover physicians' services.

1941 World War II changed many facets of American society. When soldiers returned home both families and the economy grew.  



Blue Cross was able to provide Americans with added medical and surgical coverage. By the end of the 1940s, 35 million Americans were Blue Cross subscribers.  

1950 Blue Cross thrived by improving benefits, increasing enrollment, cutting operating costs and building reserves.  

1960 The 1960s brought very important changes to the Blue Cross organization. In 1965 President Johnson signed a bill which created Medicare and Medicaid.  

Blue Cross was elected by most hospitals to process the Medicare and Medicaid claims.  

The addition of this government program doubled the size of Blue Cross plans.  

1970 A combination of inflation and rising health care costs during the 1970s caused Blue Cross to raise premiums, which caused alarm.  

The price of malpractice insurance also increased dramatically, and the providers of insurance had to compensate.  

1980 This was a period of dramatic growth for Blue Cross, and in 1982 Blue Cross of Northern California and Blue Cross of Southern California became one.  

Blue Cross of California was born because the two plans had become very similar and the advances in technology made consolidation a practical option to increase efficiency.  

1990 As the health care industry continued to grow in the 1990s, Blue Cross found it must learn to prosper in a buyer's market. Customer satisfaction became Blue Cross of California's number one priority, and it remains so today.