Should I buy health insurance from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield?

CareFirst, Inc. is a not-for-profit, non-stock, parent company of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., affiliates that do business as CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.

CareFirst happens to be the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region and has more than 3.4 million members, and more than 5,000 associates in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Northern Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia.

The company is affiliated with 165 hospitals in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia, and serves more than 500,000 members in the Federal Employees Health Program – largest FEP enrollment in the nation.

Group Hospitalization, Inc. was formed by a hospital association in Washington in 1934. In 1937, a group of 15 hospitals in Baltimore agree to participate in Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore and begin using the Blue Cross service mark, and by the year 1942, Group Hospitalization, Inc., was sanctioned to use the Blue Cross service mark.

In the year 1951, Group Hospitalization, Inc. became a fully participating member of the Blue Cross system. The following year, Medical Service of the District of Columbia was authorized to use the Blue Shield service mark.

It was in 1969 that Maryland Hospital Service, Inc. (Blue Cross) and Maryland Medical Service (Blue Shield) change their names to Maryland Blue Cross and Maryland Blue Shield, respectively. In 1985, Group Hospitalization, Inc. and Medical Services of the District of Columbia merged under the new name Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. (GHMSI). The company adopts a new trade name: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area (BCBSNCA).

It was in 1997 that Maryland and Washington Blues announced intention to combine operations under a new holding company, CareFirst, Inc., and the very next year business combination gained regulatory approval, in January two companies went forward as one under new name CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.

It is simple. Use the associated form to search for quotes and then limit plans by Carrier. Choose Carefirst. Select the best plan and apply.