Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield

Care First, Inc. is the not-for-profit, non-stock, parent company of Care First of Maryland, Inc., and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., affiliates that do business as Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Care First, Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors and special statutes regulating its business in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.

Profile and Achievements

• Care First is Is the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, providing nearly 3.4 million members with low cost medical and dental insurance

• Employs more than 5,200 associates in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Northern Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia

• Includes more than 80 percent of all providers in Maryland and National Capital Area participating in one or more of its provider networks

• Has received 13 consecutive national Brand Excellence awards, recognizing its customer service, financial strength, membership growth and promotion of the Blue brand name

• Received “Excellent” ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its BlueChoice HMO and “Full” NCQA accreditation for its BluePreferred PPO

• Operates a for-profit regional HMO subsidiary – Care First BlueChoice – that is a licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. HMO features more than 4,500 primary care physicians

• Is affiliated with 165 hospitals in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia

• Serves more than 550,000 members in the Federal Employees Health Program – largest FEP enrollment in the nation

Company Mission

The mission of Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield is to provide health benefit services of value to customers across the region comprised of Maryland and the National Capital Area. To fulfill this mission, Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield commits to:

• Offer a broad array of quality, innovative insurance plans and administrative services that are affordable and accessible to our customers;

• Fairly address the needs of customers in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate;

• Conduct business responsibly as a non-profit health service plan, to ensure the plan’s long-term financial viability and growth;

• Collaborate with the community to advance health care effectiveness and quality;

• Support public and private efforts to meet needs of persons lacking health insurance;

• Foster health systems integration and health care cost containment to benefit the people in areas we serve, and

• Promote respect, fairness and opportunity for our associates.

Financial Results (year end 2009)

• Revenue  -  $6.8 Billion

• Net Income  -  $96.8 Million

• Medical Care Spending  -  $5.7 Billion

(Information updated as of 2011 from Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield‘s website)