Information About Health Insurance

There is uncertainty in life and insurance isa trade organization linking 38 independent regional
designed to lessen the burden of this uncertainty.health insurance companies in the United States,
The principle of operation is simple, the insurerPuerto Rico and Canada. It achieved its present
(that is Blue Cross Insurance company or Blueform in 1982 after the merger of Blue Cross
Shield in this case) pays the medical costs of theassociation and the national association of Blue
insured (you) if the insured becomes sick due toShield plans.
covered causes like disease, disability, accident etc.Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are very closely
In return the insured (you) pays a monthly orlinked to managed health care in the United
annual premium (a monetary amount usuallyStates. The association is also the administrator
around 200 dollars a month, however the exactfor Social Security in a large number of states.
amount varies according to the insurance planTraditionally Blue Cross provides hospital coverage
purchased) to the insurer. As a general rule, theand Blue Shield provides medical coverage.
larger number of people in the insurance group,In different states Blue Cross and Blue Shield
the lesser is the premium. This is due to thecompanies have different names. The names of
distribution of costs.the companies are Wellpoint, Carefirst, Healthcare
Blue Cross Insurance is an insurance companyservice corporation, Highmark, Premera, The
providing health insurance in the United States andRegence Group, Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Canada. Blue Cross Insurance was started by aof various states, La Cruz Azul de Puerto Rico,
university president Justin Ford Kimball. It startedTriple-S (in Puerto Rico) and The Canadian
out in a very humble way as hospital care forAssociation of Blue cross Plans ( In Canada).
school teachers in Dallas in 1929. The premiumIt is very important to read all the fine print of
was only 6 dollars a year! Within 10 years of itsthe insurance plans as health insurance is usually
formation the Blue Cross symbol was adapted byrequired in cases of emergencies like accidents or
the American Hospital Association. Presently oneduring illness. During such a situation it would come
of every three American is covered by Blueas a nasty surprise if you find out a particular
Shield or Blue Cross making them the largestclause which denies insurance. Also the important
health care provider in the United States.phone numbers should be noted down for such
Presently Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association isemergencies.