Company Profile for BlueCross BlueShield
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
| Founded | 1929 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Industry | Health insurance |
| Key People | Scott Serota , President and CEO |
| Products | PPOs, HMOs |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Consumer Affairs
1310 G St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-626-4780
Fax: 202-626-4833
Corporate Headquarters:
225 North Madison Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
Local affiliates: 888-630-2583; follow prompts to be connected to the right local office.
www.bluecares.com
Membership: local Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in the United States, Canada and Jamaica.
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Oops, That Breast Pump We Sent You Isn't Really Covered By Insurance
By Laura Northrup on April 24, 2012 8:00 AM
81 Comments
David and his wife had a baby last year, and one item that their health insurance covers is an electric breast pump for putting away milk for later. Their mistake was not calling up Blue Cross/Blue Shield to find out whether this was a covered item with a prescription. Not that their customer service representatives are infallible, but it might have prevented what happened next. Instead, David called up the medical supply company, asked them whether it would be covered, and made the purchase. Months later, they received a bill in the month for the pump, and learned that the item wasn't covered after all, and they were on the hook for $300. Oh. More »
New Legislation Would Pad Health Insurance Coffers While Screwing Over Consumers
By Chris Morran on February 3, 2012 4:15 PM
86 Comments
As part of the Affordable Care Act, health insurers must spend at least 80% of the money they earn from premiums on actually providing health care, with the remaining cash used to cover all administrative, advertising and payroll costs. Those insurers with plans that don't follow this ratio are soon supposed to start giving the extra money back in refunds and discounts. But new legislation introduced in the Senate this week could jeopardize this, while giving insurance companies even more money to stick in their dog pillows. More »
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield Thinks Smoking And Depression Are Basically The Same Thing
By Laura Northrup on February 1, 2012 8:00 AM
73 Comments
Wellbutrin is an atypical antidepressant used to treat patients with depression, but it's also effective when used short-term to help people quit smoking. As far as Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield is concerned, then, if you're using Wellbutrin, you're a smoker. For people whose health insurance comes from their employers, this isn't as much of a problem. But the individual health insurance market is a cruel, unforgiving place where smokers pay higher premiums. And so reader Elizabeth's husband, who quit smoking more than four years ago, is slapped with the smoker's rate because he has a prescription for Wellbutrin, which they consider an "atypical tobacco product." More »
Blue Cross Blue Shield Says Man Should Pay $2,306 To Avoid Dying In His Sleep
By Ben Popken on November 3, 2011 11:00 AM
207 Comments
Jason has sleep apnea. When he sleeps, if it can be called that, he stops breathing up to twelve times per hour. His body's reflexive response is that his jaw shoots around wildly, chipping and grinding his teeth, and then he wakes up for a second. A dozen times every hour, every night, he wakes up to his teeth clanging around his mouth. As if that wasn't fun enough, of the $2,400 the mouth guard his doctor prescribed prescribed him, his insurance plan is only going to cover a max of $94. More »
(B Rosen)
Woman Loses Insurance Because She Paid With Credit Card
By Ben Popken on September 21, 2011 1:30 PM
124 Comments
Andrea has been a customer with Anthem since 1995, paying her bill all the time and never submitting any claims. So you can see why they canceled her coverage. More »
Blue Shield Of California To Give $167 Million Back To Individual Policyholders
By Chris Morran on June 7, 2011 2:30 PM
21 Comments
Amid criticism for increased rates and cushy executive salaries, the CEO of Blue Shield of California has announced that the company will cap its net income at 2%, returning any extra funds — $180 million this year alone — back to certain policyholders and doctors. More »
Study: Dentists Less Likely To Treat Kids On Medicaid
By Marc Perton on May 23, 2011 6:00 PM
118 Comments
Dentists in Cook County, IL, were more likely to provide emergency treatment to children who had private insurance than to those on Medicaid, even if the dentists were enrolled in the state's Medicaid program, according to a new study. Medicaid typically pays less than private insurance plans, and experts say there's "little market motivation" for practitioners to take on those patients, rather than just going with those who have private insurance. More »
Say Hello To Your Worst Company In America Elite 8!
By consumerist.com on April 6, 2011 12:00 PM
45 Comments
Two rounds of WCIA bloodshed are in the book and the beaten bodies of 24 multi-billion dollar companies are being hauled off to be burned on a pyre. But for those businesses left standing — let's call them the Elite 8 — the parade of pain marches on. More »
Meet Your Worst Company In America Sweet 16!
By consumerist.com on March 25, 2011 12:00 PM
70 Comments
After eight days and 16 first round battles, the WCIA steel cage is littered with the bones of those companies not crappy enough to continue on in the tournament. But the thrill of victory is fleeting for the remaining combatants, all of whom must square off again if they hope of crowning themselves the Worst Company In America! More »
Here's Your Lineup For Worst Company In America 2011!
By consumerist.com on March 14, 2011 12:00 PM
186 Comments
For the sixth year in a row, we asked Consumerist readers to send us their nominations for our Worst Company In America tournament. And this year's response was the greatest by far. More »
