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Anthem blue cross and Blue Shield
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Introduction
Anthem blue cross is a name used by an association of health
insurance plans throughout United States. Justin Ford Kimball, at Baylor
University in Dallas, Texas, developed Anthem blue cross in 1929. It is an
independent membership association that operates on service basis and
provides protection against the costs of hospital care. Benefit payments
are made directly to the hospital. Benefits differ among a variety of
Anthem blue cross associations. Anthem blue cross plans are usually established on
a group basis. However, individual enrollment is sometimes permitted,
and plans of community enrollment are undertaken in some localities.
Anthem blue cross plans are usually, but not always organized under special
state legislation.
The familiar title for the Associated Medical Care Plans, an independent
membership association cooperating with Anthem blue cross and provides protection
against the costs of surgery, doctors, and other items of medical care.
Benefit payments are made directly to the doctor and not to the policy
owner. Blue Shield is an independent, non-profit membership corporation
providing protection on a service basis against the cost of surgical
and medical care in a limited geographical area.
The Blue Shield concept was developed at the beginning
of the twentieth century by the 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 casually adopted by nine plans called the Associated
Medical Care Plan, and was later renamed as the National Association
of Blue Shield Plans. A physician expense insurance plan offered by
a regionally operated health care provider affiliate with a large national
nonprofit health care organization.
Anthem blue cross and Blue shield association
Anthem blue cross/ Blue shield is a registered trademark of Anthem blue cross and
blue shield association. Blue Shield of California offer resources for
consumers seeking medical and dental health plan information. It is
an independent member of the Blue Shield Association. Blue Shield and
the Shield Symbol are registered marks of the Anthem Blue cross and Blue shield
Association, an Association of Independent Anthem blue cross and Blue Shield
Plans. With 3.3 million members and $6.9 billion in annual revenue,
Blue Shield of California is the state's third largest health plan.
Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield is a
not-for-profit corporation with about 4,300 employees and more than
20 offices throughout California.
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