About BlueCross BlueShield of Minnesota
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, chartered in 1933, was one of the state's first health plans. Its founding mission was to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. We've remained true to that mission for more than 70 years.
Membership
Blue Cross is the largest health plan in Minnesota, providing health coverage to more than 2.7 million members. Blue Cross offers coverage for individuals and groups of all sizes, as well as for state and federal employees in every county throughout the state. Blue Cross also serves more than 125,000 members enrolled in government-sponsored programs and 184,000 members enrolled in Medicare programs.
In 2003 Blue Cross was one of the first in the country to offer consumer-directed health plans. Blue Cross currently serves 155,000 members in its Options Blue plans, which combine a high-deductible health plan with a financial account and support from health management services and an on-line member service center.
Financial Stability
Blue Cross, a not-for-profit, taxable organization, and its affiliates - under the parent corporation Aware Integrated Inc. - had total premium and premium equivalents in 2004 of more than $6 billion. More than 90 percent of health care premiums it received were paid back out for health care claims. Blue Cross realized a 0.2 percent net income and paid more than $106 million in 2004 in taxes and assessments.
Network Strength and Service
Blue Cross offers its customers access to 100 percent of nonfederal hospitals and more than 93 percent of professional providers statewide. Its plans offer true statewide coverage and access to providers in all areas of the state. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded its highest accreditation status, for service and clinical quality, to the three main components of Blue Cross' managed care business.
Affiliates Licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation is the largest grantmaking foundation in Minnesota dedicated exclusively to improving community health in our state. Since 1986, it has awarded more than $20 million to make a healthy difference in Minnesota's communities. The Foundation's programs address four key factors that determine health: early childhood development, housing, social connectedness and the environment.
BlueLink TPA
A full-service provider of third-party administrative services for self-funded companies located in Minnesota.
Blue Plus
A state-regulated, traditional health maintenance organization (HMO) that offers health plans and care networks throughout Minnesota, conducts research and promotes quality improvement.
Consumer Aware
Offers a variety of consumer engagement strategies and care management services, such as Healthcare Facts, offering comparative information about hospitals and clinics.
First Plan of Minnesota
A regional HMO based in northeastern Minnesota that provides health care coverage through its network of primary care and specialty clinics.
MII Life Inc.
A Minnesota stock insurance corporation authorized to write life insurance in Minnesota.
SupportSource, Inc.
A not-for-profit affiliate that provides employee assistance programs.
Affiliates Offering Products Not Branded Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue Cross also has a number of affiliates not "blue branded" and not licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, in areas such as fixed-income investment management, life insurance/long-term care, pharmacy benefits management, utilization review services, etc. Contact us for more information about them.
Health Improvement
Blue Cross strives to empower people to improve their health through its contracting and credentialing requirements, benefit designs that cover preventive services and programs that help people with chronic diseases and illnesses live healthier lives. Blue Cross focuses extensive efforts on three areas: tobacco reduction, influenza, and chronic disease management. We also provide programs for healthy pregnancies and births, hypertension management, ensuring follow-up care after hospitalization, nurse advice lines, and a variety of health education/consumer information services.
New Corporate Highlights
Prevention Minnesota
In January 2006, Blue Cross launched a long-term health improvement initiative with funds from Blue Cross' lawsuit against the tobacco companies. Blue Cross will invest $241 million to tackle the root causes - tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition - of our most preventable and costliest diseases.
Blue Centers of Excellence
Blue Cross, in partnership with other Blues plans, identified centers nationwide for both obesity surgeries and heart care that meet strict standards of care for those specialties and help consumers determine how hospitals perform against standards of successful care. They join the existing center of excellence recognition program for transplant surgeries, which was started in 1996.
Medicare
Blue Cross offers several products made possible by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, including a regional Medicare Part D option; a regional Medicare Advantage PPO; and our own Medigap (Senior Gold), Cost Contract (VantageBlue) and Minnesota Senior Health Options (SecureBlue).
do campaign
Blue Cross developed the do campaign to help Minnesotans meet the recommended physical activity guidelines set by the American Heart Association and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign combines widespread public messaging with on-the-street activities to highlight and recognize physical activity options.
Network changes
Blue Cross is making health insurance more affordable, with online member service centers, 24-hour nurse phone lines, coverage for MinuteClinic visits and new network designs.
Fitness Center discounts
Blue Cross now offers a $20/month fitness center credit for its fully insured members who work out at least eight days per month at participating fitness centers.
Back to resources.