Talk:Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Change from non-profit to for-profit
Why is there no discussion of BCBSA starting out as a non-profit and changing into a for-profit? This is critical for understanding the nature of BCBSA as part of the problem in US Healthcare today. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.66.201.207 (talk) 02:21, 9 May 2010 (UTC)

Are they still non-profit in some states? The articel is confusing... --87.174.193.188 (talk) 13:10, 26 October 2013 (UTC)

It's an Association. It holds zero member data. It manages the brand and name of BCBS companies. Companies have to report a certain profit amount to keep their license. Other than that, BCBSA does nothing for the member except give Serota a million $ salary and have a boatload of high paid VPs. THey're purpose is totally useless except to contribute to healthcare spending waste. No one knows what they do or understand their purpose. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 162.95.148.252 (talk) 15:16, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

Legal Woes/Criticism Section?
There are many news organizations publishing lawsuits and other consumer criticism regarding Anthem Blue Shield. It seems this section should be added. There are also consumer blogs and websites criticizing Blue Shield for denial of payments. For example: http://anthemblue.wordpress.com/

Any thoughts? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Hechung (talk • contribs) 21:57, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

Use of "both" three times in one sentence
The use of "both" three times in a single sentence in the "Current organization" section is intentional. They refer to:

1. Both brands ("Blue Cross" and "Blue Shield");

2. Used both in CamelCase ("BlueCross BlueShield", though the two brands are always separated) and in traditional form ("Blue Cross-Blue Shield" and the like);

3. By both the association (both "BlueCross BlueShield Association" and "Blue Cross Blue Shield Association" are used on its home page; its legal name, in traditional form, is the title of this article) and its member insurers (numerous examples throughout the article) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.232.54.30 (talk • contribs) 2006-06-28 03:45:54 (UTC).

Bogus first line
"The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is the national trade organization that cheats, maims and kills unsuspecting Americans. " ???

Somebody please correct the first line...

Thank you —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ricknorth (talk • contribs) 00:25, 19 February 2007 (UTC).

Merging individual Blues plans into the Association entry
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a distinct entity. While Blues plans are licensed through the Association, they are independent licensees and seperate companies. It would be at the very least inaccurate and misleading to merge any individual plans into the entry on the association. There are 69 Blue plans and 36 parent companies. In some states, those plans are direct competitors (e.g., Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California). The only real link between the plans is their licensing through and participation in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Tamara Young 16:50, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

Cost of insurance
"Though all Blue Cross-Blue Shield plans must pay Federal income tax under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, some plans are still considered not-for-profit at the state level." Sheesh! The government is taxing health insurance, while complaining that it's not affordable. No wonder the cost of health care is so high! --205.201.141.146 16:47, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia is not a forum to discuss personal matters or opinions, this discussion page is to improve the article itself. 75.72.21.25 (talk) 21:08, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

Outsourcing
Earlier this year, Blue Cross' decision to outsource a number of jobs was an enormous story in Northeast Florida, as well as much of the rest of the state, and in smaller numbers throught the southeast. I will search for reliable links if anyone feels it is worth of inclusion in this article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.177.20.72 (talk) 11:10, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
 * The content would be relevant on a page dedicated to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. This article is dedicated to the association at large rather than the individual companies that make up the BCBS family. Tamara Young (talk) 16:37, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

HISTORY???
When was Blue cross founded? By whom? Why? What was the scope of it's original purpose? When did it change?

This article needs to be more comprehensive.

Who's the dumbass who put Andrew Dreyfus as the CEO? It's Scott Serota. Look it up. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.239.18.50 (talk) 03:35, 7 July 2011 (UTC)

Canada
A separate article should be created for the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans. Here is some text removed from this article that could be used as a starting point.

The Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans is an association whose members specialize in travel insurance and health plans for individuals, families, and employers of all sizes, regionalized to supplement the health plans of the various provincial governments.

In October 2008, Alberta Blue Cross was named one of Alberta's Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc., which was announced by the Calgary Herald and the Edmonton Journal. In the same month, Manitoba Blue Cross was named one of Manitoba's Top Employers, which was announced by the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper.


 * List of Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans members
 * Pacific Blue Cross
 * Saskatchewan Blue Cross
 * Alberta Blue Cross
 * Manitoba Blue Cross
 * Ontario Blue Cross (individual plans)
 * Croix Bleue du Québec (individual plans)
 * Medavie Blue Cross
 * New Brunswick
 * Nova Scotia
 * Newfoundland & Labrador
 * Prince Edward Island
 * Ontario (group plans)
 * Quebec (group plans)

Primary topic of "Blue Cross"
An anonymous user has been changing the target of the Blue Cross redirect from this page to the disambiguation page Blue Cross (disambiguation). This causes it to show up on WikiProject Disambiguation/Malplaced disambiguation pages‎ periodically, which brought it to my attention. Since the change from primary topic to non primary topic was undiscussed, I have reverted the anon's edits, and I have left instructions on User talk:82.46.49.45. Watchers of this page may also want to watch Blue Cross. Cheers! -- JHunterJ (talk) 12:28, 12 November 2009 (UTC)

List of affiliated insurance companies and nonprofit status
It would be helpful if someone could list all the affiliated (usually by license) BCBS insurance companies. The current list is incomplete. It would also be helpful if that list would also indicate whether the affiliate is a for profit company owned by shareholders and thus operated to maximize by shareholder value (by raising premiums and underpaying doctors), or if it is a nonprofit with no equity owners that seek to extract rents from customers and instead simply provides efficient risk pooling insurance function. Note that "tax-exempt" and "nonprofit" are not the same thing. Plenty of nonprofits pay some taxes. The key to being a nonprofit is that you don't have equity owners to whom you have fiduciary duty to exploit your customers and other counterparties so as to maximize shareholder profits. Nonprofits simply carry out their mission -- for insurance companies that would be efficient pooling of risk -- without seeking profits for shareholders. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.202.51.11 (talk) 16:07, 30 June 2011 (UTC)
 * So fix it. Esrever (klaT) 16:33, 30 June 2011 (UTC)

more third party sources needed
I flagged the article, because a lot of primary sources are used. I count 6 out of 15 refs. the flag was removed by without edit summary. please discuss, why you took the flag down/dont want this flag up.--Wuerzele (talk) 08:05, 1 July 2014 (UTC)
 * My mistake, please accept my apology. Thanks for catching it-- Imveracious (talk) 15:32, 1 July 2014 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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501(c)(4)
Is BCBS under 501(c)(4) or not? There are conflicting statements. 67.206.183.136 (talk) 21:22, 20 July 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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Picture
Why show the IL building (where HCSC supposedly lives...last I heard they lived in 225 N Michigan Avewhich is also where BCBSA lives. Second floor to 13th floor. Take a pic of that building instead. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 162.95.148.252 (talk) 15:13, 30 January 2020 (UTC)
 * This comment is correct. 45.26.61.142 (talk) 22:42, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

Updating BCBS logo
I don't have an account so can't update the logo myself, but the current logo is very low quality. See here for a newer SVG image file from the BCBS website that would be ideal to be swapped in: https://www.bcbs.com/themes/custom/bcbs/img/full-logo.svg  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 73.158.74.249 (talk) 00:38, 10 March 2021 (UTC)

wrong building
This article shows 300 E randolph, where HCSC is headquartered. The BSBS Association is across the street at 200 E Randolph, aka Aon Center. 2600:1700:7C50:B2C0:3C2C:D032:7B49:DB04 (talk) 16:40, 26 February 2024 (UTC)