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The evolution of healthcare has peaked in recent years. If we track to own the history of Medicare, half of Americans over 65 were deprived of any kind of protection of health insurance. It was not until 1966 that Medicare was signed into law. Previously, Blue Cross Blue Shield companies were among the only insurers with the claims processing capability and computing power to administer the new program. In the first year, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) seamlessly processed the claims of nearly 5 million Medicare patients.
Blue Cross Blue Shield was established in 1929 to provide healthcare coverage to members, and allowing them to live free of worry, free of fear. Over the years, BCBS has expanded its reach in every zip code and offers a personalized approach to healthcare based on the needs of the communities where its members live and work. BCBS works closely with hospitals and doctors in the communities they serve to offer quality and affordable healthcare. It understands and caters to the needs of local communities, while offering nationwide healthcare coverage that opens doors for 110 million members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Nationwide, more than 1.7 million doctors and hospitals contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield companies—more than any other insurer. Today, one in three Americans is covered by the Blue System.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national association comprising of 35 independent, community-based, and locally operated BCBS companies. This association owns and manages the Blue Cross and Blue Shield trademarks and names in more than 170 countries around the world. Moreover, it also grants licenses to independent companies to use the trademarks and names in exclusive geographic areas. BCBS global capitalizes on the network strength and name recognition of Blue Cross Blue Shield inside the U.S. and Bupa Global outside the U.S. to provide access to one of the largest care networks in the world. This network is backed by advanced technology and high-touch service from GeoBlue which creates a simplified international healthcare experience for its members. The key distinguishing factors are,
Leading Networks that enable access to more than 1.7 million providers worldwide
Integrated Experience through centralized tools and programs
Leading Digital Tools that help in simplifying the international healthcare experience
For decades, the BCBS companies have offered security and compassion to the communities and members it serves. It regularly supports, invests in, and builds programs and partnerships that have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of all Americans and their communities. The BCBS System has increasingly supported community programs that address social determinants of health – the environment in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. The 2019 community impact reflects that BCBS has invested $367M in community health initiatives, $15M in employee donations, $2.4M in disaster relief efforts, and dedicated nearly 591K hours of employee volunteer time.
BCBS aims to build a healthier community. Since its inception, the Group has been keen to observe the challenges and limitations of healthcare and resolve them through exceptional initiatives and programs. There has been a rise in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) cases lately. Moreover, the ratio also highlights racial disparity with Black communities having a 63% higher rate in comparison. These rates are higher across all age groups and inspecting the analysis showed that Black and Hispanic women have a substantially higher prevalence than white women of the most common risk factors that put women at risk of SMM. After the study, BCBS committed to reducing racial disparities in maternal health by 50% in five years.
“A detailed analysis of the racial disparities in SMM as well as the risk factors for those events can help us target interventions so desperately needed to narrow these disparities and improve maternal health for all women,” explained Kim. A. Keck, the President, and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Kim is a respected leader in the healthcare industry and built a reputation as an engaged, incisive leader. She has been part of the industry for more than two decades. Throughout her journey, Kim has held leadership roles spanning from the head of the enterprise strategy to head of investor relations, treasury, tax, actuary, controllers, and planning. She has graduated with honors from Boston College with a degree in mathematics and earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Connecticut. She is a CFA charter holder. Prior to joining BCBSA in 2021, she served as the president and CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), the state’s largest health insurer.
Kim has been responsible for driving strategic initiatives around cost and value stewardship, convenience, and comprehensive health, and led policy efforts fortifying elements of the Affordable Care Act to ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to quality care. She has equally combatted long-standing social issues influencing health outcomes, such as childhood obesity, housing insecurity, and racial inequities. As a veteran, Kim also serves on the boards of directors of Oak Street Health, Evolent Health, and BCS Financial. She is a frequent speaker on topics related to healthcare policy and women’s leadership.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has shaped the healthcare industry through innovation and leadership. It aims to continually offer stability in the climate of uncertainty. Also, it has equally contributed to the fight against COVID-19. “We’ve surpassed our goal of helping millions of vulnerable Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19 through the Vaccine Community Connectors program,” states Kim.
Blue Cross Blue Shield aims to continually revolutionize the healthcare landscape through tools, services, and programs. BCBS is dedicated to continually transform healthcare with the same spirit of innovation that has improved the lives of generations of Americans. Giving Americans everywhere the freedom to look to the future without fear, and the power to live fearlessly.
