Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association · Chicago, IL United States

The rise of managed health care has had some of its members singing the blues, but the Blues -- with more than 100 million members nationwide -- aren't complaining. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a federation of independent health insurance companies who license the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand names. Member companies -- of which there are about 40 -- own the rights to sell Blue-branded health plans within defined regions. The Association coordinates some national programs such as BlueCard, which allows members of one franchisee to have coverage in other service areas, and the Federal Employee Program, which covers more than half of federal government employees, retirees, and their families. To read the full description, subscribe now.