Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Company Overview
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) has been around since 1934 and today provides individual and group health insurance to over 1.2-million Louisianans. This means that at least one-in-four Louisianans is a member. The company has a dramatic contributionto the state’s economy and all-told has a $4-billion impact on the economy through tax-revenues, corporate sponsorship, and medical claims reimbursement, which averages $.85 for every premium dollar.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Ratings »

History
The Blue Cross brand originated in 1929 at Baylor University with a plan offering teachers three weeks of hospital care for $6 per year. As the company grew, it began offering coverage to other employee groups in Dallas and later expanded to national coverage. The Blue Shield brand was developed at the start of last century with lumber and mining employers in the Pacific Northwest paying a monthly fee to a designated group of physicians.Blue Shield and the Blue Cross Association merged in 1982 to become the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
BCBSLA was founded in 1934 and is the state’s oldest and largest health insurer. The company was born when six hospitals agreed to form Hospital Service Association of New Orleans (HSANO), a not-for-profit, mutual insurer offering pre-paid hospital care. In 1948, the Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Alexandria plans merged to form the Louisiana Hospital Service. This was approved as a Blue Cross Plan and began operating as Blue Cross of Baton Rouge. In 1958, the HSANO became Blue Cross of Greater New Orleans and in 1975, the two companies merged to become Blue Cross of Louisiana and in 1985 the company became Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Current Organization
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana provides health insurance to over 1.2-million Louisianans, which accounts for about a quarter of the state’s population. The company has regional offices in New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Alexandria, and Houma. BCBSLA has a stated mission of improving “the lives of Louisianans by providing health guidance and affordable access to quality care”. BCBSLA is strongly poised to strengthen its role and competitive standing, today, tomorrow, and for years to come.