Health Insurance

CareFirst BCBS health insurance

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After more than 75 years of providing health insurance coverage, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has grown to be the largest medical insurer in the Mid-Atlantic Region. It has received 11 consecutive national Brand Excellence awards in recognition of its outstanding service to its nearly 3.4 million members.

At its start, CareFirst BCBS was actually several separate organizations. The earliest founding members of the insurer were Group Hospitalization Inc. and Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore which were founded in 1934 and 1937 respectively. Over the years, the providers would evolve, expand their services and partner with other firms. Eventually, in 1998, the CareFirst name was adopted as Maryland and Washington DC Blues companies agreed to combine operations.

Today, the company and its affiliates serve residents in five areas: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. Members can select from a number of medical insurance options.

CareFirst BCBS members have access to a large network with more than 80 percent of the region’s providers participating in at least one of its health insurance plans. In addition, in 2011, the company launched a Patient-Centered Medical Home program which included more than 2,200 primary care providers, making it the largest program of its type in the nation.

In addition to its Brand Excellence Awards, CareFirst BCBS has also regularly been named a ‘Best in Blue’ insurer for its exemplary customer service. That customer service is provided by CareFirst’s workforce that, when its affiliates are included, numbers approximately 5,200.

CareFirst BCBS is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.