Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is a federation of 38 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 99 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of Blue Shield dates to 1939. The Blue Cross Association dates back to 1960, while its Blue Shield counterpart was created in 1948. The two organizations merged in 1982, forming the current association.

Read more about Blue Cross Blue Shield Association:  History, Current Organization, List of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies, Criticism and Controversy

Famous quotes containing the words blue, cross, shield and/or association:

    “Oh, Scott, for people like you and me the world can be a wonderful place. The sky’s as blue as it is for the giants, the friends are as warm.”
    —Richard Matheson (b. 1926)

    “There is the grand truth about Nathaniel Hawthorne. He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes. For all men who say yes, lie; and all men who say no,—why, they are in the happy condition of judicious, unincumbered travellers in Europe; they cross the frontiers into Eternity with nothing but a carpet-bag,—that is to say, the Ego. Whereas those yes-gentry, they travel with heaps of baggage, and, damn them! they will never get through the Custom House.”
    —Herman Melville (1819–1891)

    “Vice is its own reward. It is virtue which, if it is to be marketed with consumer appeal, must carry Green Shield stamps.”
    —Quentin Crisp (b. 1908)

    “In this great association we know no North, no South, no East, no West. This has been our pride for all these years. We have no political party. We never have inquired what anybody’s religion is. All we ever have asked is simply, “Do you believe in perfect equality for women?” This is the one article in our creed.”
    —Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)