| Blue Cross insurance was the creation of Justin | | | | the country's largest healthcare provider.But Blue |
| Ford Kimball who, in 1929, devised a plan to | | | | Cross and Blue Shield does much more than |
| provide hospital care for school teachers in Dallas. | | | | simply provide medical insurance cover on a group |
| The plan provided teachers with cover for up to | | | | and individual basis.The Association is now also the |
| twenty one days in hospitalization each year for a | | | | administrator for Social Security in a large number |
| premium of six dollars.From these humble | | | | of states and often provides group cover for |
| beginnings the plan spread, first throughout Dallas | | | | state government employees and for employees |
| and other areas of Texas and then nationwide, | | | | of the Federal government. As a result, officials |
| providing cover for employees across an ever | | | | within Blue Cross and Blue Shield work closely with |
| widening range of employment.Just ten years | | | | government health policy makers at the very top |
| after it was born the Blue Cross symbol was | | | | levels of government and the Association plays a |
| adopted by the American Hospital Association for | | | | significant part in influencing the direction of |
| plans that met certain standards and this formal | | | | government health policy.It is amazing to think |
| recognition provided Blue Cross insurance with a | | | | that a plan originally devised simply to provide |
| springboard for further growth.In 1960 the | | | | cover for hospital bills for a small group of school |
| growth in popularity of Blue Cross was such that | | | | teachers in Dallas has now developed not only into |
| the Blue Cross Association superseded the | | | | a nationwide plan providing cover for just about |
| American Hospital Association commission and | | | | anything you can imagine from critical illness |
| some twelve years later severed all ties with the | | | | through long-term care, disability, life cover, dental |
| commission.Finally, in 1982, the Blue Cross | | | | cover, pharmacy cover and even cover for |
| Association merged with the National Association | | | | worldwide travel, but has also spawned an |
| of Blue Shield Plans and the Blue Cross and Blue | | | | organization that is at the very heart of the |
| Shield Association we know today was | | | | healthcare system of the United States.With such |
| formed.The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association | | | | phenomenal growth in the past seventy five |
| is in effect a trade association for some thirty | | | | years and such a strong position today one can |
| eight independent and locally, or regionally, | | | | only imagine that Blue Cross and Blue Shield will |
| operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. These | | | | continue to grow in the years ahead proving yet |
| together provide cover throughout the United | | | | more and more cover for an ever growing |
| States, as well as in the Canadian province, for | | | | number of customers.To learn more about Blue |
| millions of Americans (it is estimated that one in | | | | Cross and Blue Shield and Blue Cross insurance |
| three Americans now carry a Blue Cross and Blue | | | | please visit Blue Cross Insurance Today. |
| Shield card) and makes Blue Cross and Blue Shield | | | | |