Is Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross the same?

Asked by: Fannie Bauch MD  |  Last update: August 27, 2022
Score: 4.3/5 (39 votes)

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a subsidiary of Anthem, but the two entities each sell health insurance in different areas of the country, and each company provides Medicare health benefits and prescription drug coverage to beneficiaries in those areas.

What is the difference between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem?

“In California, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield are actually different companies and are competitors. In most other states, they are the same company and formed an association, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Anthem Blue Cross is a for profit company in California, and Blue Shield is a non-profit.

Is there another name for Anthem Blue Cross?

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company is a PDP plan with a Medicare contract.

Why is Anthem changing its name?

Boudreaux said said the name changes were a major step in Anthem's journey from a health benefits organization to a “lifetime trusted health partner.” A Q&A on the website said the no leadership or organizational changes will occur with the name change.

Is Anthem the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield in Ohio?

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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What company owns Anthem?

Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

What type of insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The 34 independent and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies deliver health insurance coverage to one in three Americans across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In addition, the BCBS Federal Employee Program® insures over five million federal employees, retirees and their families.

What states are Anthem BCBS?

The fourteen U.S. states served by Anthem health insurance plans include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Is Anthem Blue Cross Good?

Anthem is a publicly traded subsidiary of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. It's financially strong, and AM Best gives the company an A ("Excellent") rating, indicating the company has the financial ability to pay claims.

Is Anthem the same as Blue Cross Blue Shield in Florida?

Under the Traditional Program, Anthem's comprehensive medical health care benefit plan is included. Though under this program there is no set network of health care providers, members are recommended to visit a “Blue Plan” participating provider as Anthem is under Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Who owns Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national association of 34 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies. The Association owns and manages the Blue Cross and Blue Shield trademarks and names in more than 170 countries around the world.

What does PPO stand for in insurance?

PPO stands for preferred provider organization. Just like an HMO, or health maintenance organization, a PPO plan offers a network of healthcare providers you can use for your medical care. These providers have agreed to provide care to the plan members at a certain rate.

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield different in each state?

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield members can rest easy since Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage opens doors in all 50 states and is accepted by over 90 percent of doctors and specialists. And if your extended travel plans take you abroad, you can ensure you have access to quality care through GeoBlue.

What is a PPO insurance?

A type of health plan that contracts with medical providers, such as hospitals and doctors, to create a network of participating providers. You pay less if you use providers that belong to the plan's network.

What is Anthem changing to?

We are very excited to share the news that our parent company, Anthem, Inc., has filed a preliminary proxy statement to change its name. The new name, pending shareholder approval, will be Elevance Health. We will continue to do business as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

What is going on with Anthem?

The announcement came from BioWare, but both companies were involved in the decision to cancel Anthem 2.0 (or Anthem NEXT, as it was called both). Dailey cited two reasons for the cancellation of the project: the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to focus on making Dragon Age and Mass Effect the best they can be.

What is Blue Cross Blue Shield called in California?

In California Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association.

How do I transfer my health insurance from one company to another?

  1. Write to your old insurance company requesting a shift.
  2. Specify company to which you want to shift the policy.
  3. Renew your policy without a break (there is a 30 day grace period if porting is under process)

Do doctors prefer HMO or PPO?

PPOs Usually Win on Choice and Flexibility

If flexibility and choice are important to you, a PPO plan could be the better choice. Unlike most HMO health plans, you won't likely need to select a primary care physician, and you won't usually need a referral from that physician to see a specialist.

What is better HMO or PPO?

HMO plans typically have lower monthly premiums. You can also expect to pay less out of pocket. PPOs tend to have higher monthly premiums in exchange for the flexibility to use providers both in and out of network without a referral. Out-of-pocket medical costs can also run higher with a PPO plan.

What is the largest PPO network in America?

The MultiPlan PHCS network is the nation's largest and most comprehensive independent PPO network. This network offers access in all states and includes more than 700,000 healthcare professionals, 4,500 hospitals and 70,000 ancillary care facilities.

Who is the largest health insurance company in the US?

1. UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealthcare, part of UnitedHealth Group, is the largest health insurance company by total members. UnitedHealthcare offers a variety of products from individual health insurance to full employer benefit plans for some of the biggest corporations.

Is Blue Shield an HMO?

Blue Shield will also continue to offer Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans with access to the Trio ACO HMO Network.