BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina facts for kids
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| For-profit corporation | |
| Industry | Health Insurance |
| Founded | 1946 (Began) 1950 (Incorporated) |
| Founder | South Carolina Hospital Service Plan |
| Headquarters | Columbia, South Carolina |
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Key people
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Mike Mizeur, Chief Executive Ed Sellers, Chairman, Board of Directors Joe Sullivan, Chairman, Board's Executive Committee |
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Number of employees
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11,000+ |
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (often called BlueCross) is a large health insurance company. It helps many people get health care. BlueCross is part of a bigger group called the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
This company helps over 21 million people. They work with private businesses and government programs. BlueCross also has several other companies that work with them. Some of these companies are also part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Others are partners that work closely with BlueCross.
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History of BlueCross
BlueCross started a long time ago, in 1946. It was first known as the South Carolina Hospital Service Plan. In 1947, it joined with another group to become stronger. Then, in 1971, BlueShield of South Carolina merged with BlueCross. This created the company we know today.
Fighting Diabetes in South Carolina
In 2020, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina started an important project. They teamed up with other groups to launch "Diabetes Free SC." This project aims to help people with diabetes in South Carolina. It focuses on three main areas:
- Helping pregnant women with diabetes.
- Lowering the risk of diabetes for children.
- Preventing diabetes and its problems in adults.
The BlueCross Foundation gave over $11 million to support this project. This money helps different organizations work on these goals.
BlueChoice HealthPlan
BlueChoice HealthPlan was created in 1984. It was first called Companion HealthCare. This was the first HMO offered by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. An HMO is a type of health plan that helps manage your health care. Today, BlueChoice HealthPlan has almost 200,000 members.
In 2008, BlueChoice HealthPlan added a Medicaid option. This helps people in South Carolina who qualify for Medicaid. In 2013, BlueChoice HealthPlan received a high financial rating. This shows it is a very strong and reliable company.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina took action. They decided to help their members with COVID-19 treatments. They removed extra costs for members who needed care for the virus. This helped many people get the treatment they needed without worrying about extra fees.
