BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BlueCross) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.[2] BlueCross serves 21.5 million people through private business and government contracts.[3]
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For-profit corporation[1] | |
Industry | healthcare insurance |
Founded | 1946 (Began) 1950 (Incorporated) |
Founder | South Carolina Hospital Service Plan |
Headquarters | Columbia, South Carolina |
Key people | David Pankau, Chief Executive Ed Sellers, Chairman, Board of Directors Joe Sullivan, Chairman, Board's Executive Committee |
Number of employees | 11,000+ |
Website | southcarolinablues.com |
BlueCross has several subsidiaries, two of which are affiliates licensed with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Licensed subsidiaries include BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation and BlueChoice HealthPlan. Non-licensed affiliates include Companion Captive Insurance Company, Companion Life, PGBA, LLC, Planned Administrators, Inc. (PAI) and TCC of South Carolina.[4]
History
BlueCross began as the South Carolina Hospital Service Plan, later becoming BlueCross of South Carolina (BlueCross), when the General Assembly passed legislation bringing this group into existence. In the spring of 1947, the South Carolina Hospital Service Plan merged with the Hospital Benefit Association of Greenville, giving them a financial base.[5] In 1971, BlueShield of South Carolina merged with BlueCross to form the current company.[6]
On 13 July 2020, South Carolina's BlueCross BlueShield said it has given $11.6 million in grants from its fund to Prisma Health, South Carolina Medical University, the Healthier Generation Foundation, and the non-profit FoodShareSC.[7] Improving fertility results for women with diabetes, rising the incidence of diabetes in adolescents, and adult diabetes prevention are the key priorities for the grant. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Megan Shellinger, Maternal Fetal Medicine Expert and Medical Director of the OB Clinic for Prisma Health Upstate, helped formulate the proposal. Her BlueCross BlueShield grant gave her family $1.5 million.[8]
BlueChoice HealthPlan
BlueChoice HealthPlan was founded in 1984, originally as Companion HealthCare, and was the first health maintenance organization (HMO) offered by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.[9] To date, BlueChoice HealthPlan has nearly 200,000 members.[10]
In 2008 the HMO added a Medicaid option called BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid[11] for eligible South Carolinians.[12]
In 2013, A.M. Best affirmed BlueChoice HealthPlan's A+ (Superior) financial strength rating[13] as part of the group rating for BCBSSC.[14]
Coronavirus Pandemic
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina decided to waive all out-of-pockets fees of the members for COVID-19 related treatments.[15]
References
- "South Carolina Secretary of State: Welcome to the Secretary of State's Official Website!". Sos.sc.gov. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- "BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina". BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Cyberwoven. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- "BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina - South Carolina Health Insurance Plans from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina". Ehealthinsurance.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- "Our Family of Companies | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina". Web.southcarolinablues.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- "Company History". Company History | BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Cyberwoven. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- "BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF SOUTH CAROLINA|Company Profile|Vault.com". Vault.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- "BlueCross invests $12 million in SC diabetes prevention, aims to tackle state's chronic problem". The Post and Courier. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "BlueCross BlueShield of SC awarded $11.6 million in grants for diabetes care". Greenville News. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina, Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek". Businessweek.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- "BlueChoice HealthPlan". Bluechoicesc.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- "BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina - Medicaid - Home". Bluechoicescmedicaid.com. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- "BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina - Medicaid". Bluechoicescmedicaid.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- "BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina, Inc. - Company Profile - Best's Credit Rating Center". 3.ambest.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- "About Blue Option". HealthInsuranceSC. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. 2015.
- Anderson, Zuri (2020-04-02). "BlueCross BlueShield of SC to waive COVID-19 treatment costs to members". WCIV. Retrieved 2020-04-10.