We're BlueService... BlueService is the difference that makes the difference.

75 Years of the Blues

Blue Cross and Blue Shield: Timeline History, 1960 - 2004

Today, Blue Cross and Blue Shield continues to be the leader in health care affordability through commissioning important research and creating consumer outreach programs and innovative product designs. As we celebrate 75 Years of Covering America, we can take pride in our legacy of achievements in health care.

President Lyndon Johnson signs the Medicare bill into law in 1965.

1960

Associated Medical Care Plans is renamed Association of Blue Shield Plans.

1965

The Medicare and Medicaid programs are created. Launching a massive program like Medicare would have been prohibitive without the established Blue Cross and Blue Shield infrastructure. In the five years following Medicare's inception, Blue Cross processed 63.4 million claims totaling approximately $19.2 billion. In 2001, the Blue System continued to process the overwhelming majority of Medicare claims totaling $163 billion.

1973

The Health Maintenance Organization Act provided federal grant and loan money to help HMOs get off the ground and contained broad language about benefits that had to be provided.

1976

The Association of Blue Shield Plans changes name to Blue Shield Association.

1982

Separate associations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans are merged, forming Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

1984

Blue Shield of California becomes the first health plan to cover a heart transplant at Stanford University Hospital. In the following decade, the Blue System would establish the Blue Cross and Blue Shield National Transplant Network. The network currently includes seven transplant types and more than 60 transplant centers nationwide.

1985

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association founded the Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) and pioneered the development of scientific criteria for assessing medical technologies.

1994

BlueCard is launched. This program enables member who are traveling or living in another Plan's service area to receive the same health care service benefits of their home Plan.

1996

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans' PPO, POS and HMO enrollment reaches 34.6 million, surpassing the 31.7 million members in traditional coverage.

1997

The Balanced Budget Act is enacted, which added the Medicare+Choice program allowing beneficiaries to choose additional types of health plans.

2001

Blue System processes the majority of Medicare claims at a total of $163 billion.

2003

Blue Cross and Blue Shield System-wide enrollment reaches all-time high. More than 88 million Americans – nearly one-in-three – have BCBS coverage.

2004

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association launches the BlueWorldwide Expat, a new worldwide medical coverage program for expatriate workers in U.S.-based companies doing business abroad.