Blue Cross and Blue Shield 90th Anniversary
1929
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas - traces roots to world’s first hospital insurance at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. Plan Administrator Justin Ford Kimball would eventually be called the “father of Blue Cross.”
1934
Viennese artist Joseph Binder is commissioned to paint poster with blue cross, which soon becomes unifying symbol among emerging Blue Cross Plans.
1939
Blue Shield symbol is created - combining serpent with U.S. Army Medical Corps insignia. Texas Blue Cross Plan incorporates as Group Hospital Services.
1947
The American Hospital Association officially recognizes Baylor Hospital as the birthplace of the national Blue Cross movement.
1949
Inter-Plan Service Benefit Bank (forerunner of BlueCard®) is created to coordinate coverage for members hospitalized away from home.
1955
Nearly 70% of population is insured up from less than 10% in 1940. Blue Cross has 1 million members in Texas.
1962
Texas Plan buys its first computer to support its involvement in Old Age Assistance program, a precursor to Medicare.
1965
The Medicare bill is signed into law creating Medicare and Medicaid programs, which would have been difficult without Blue Cross and Blue Shield framework.
1976
Company wins bid to cover Texas state employees under a uniform program of life, accident and health insurance. Austin Claims Service Center established to serve this account.
1982
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association forms when the two separate associations merge.
1991
Caring for Children Foundation establishes to serve the medical needs of uninsured children across the state.
1994
BlueCard program launches enabling members traveling or living in another Plan’s service area to receive the same health care service benefits of their home Plan.
1998
Health Care Service Corporation is created with the merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Texas and Illinois.
2000
Company initiates outcomes-based reimbursement contracts with hospitals and physicians to improve the quality of care.
2004
Worldwide medical coverage launches through GeoBlue Expat® for employees in U.S.-based companies working abroad.
2010
Affordable Care Act implementation begins. New headquarters opens in Richardson.
2011
Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® initiative launches to improve health and wellness through community investments.
2014
BCBSTX is only major insurer to fully participate on ACA’s retail exchanges in first year. Texas Plan launches first accountable care organization with Texas Health Resources.
2016
Texas Medical Association and BCBSTX partner to form TMA PracticeEdge, a separate company helping independent physicians provide cost-effective patient care.
2017
C1 Innovation Lab® opens to meet employers’ increasing needs.
2018
1 million members are enrolled under value-based care arrangements. Affordability CuresSM launches a $1.5 billion endeavor to reduce costs and insure more Americans.
90 years and counting health care keeps evolving... and so will we.
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