BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

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BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the largest health benefit plan company in Tennessee. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization governed by its own board of directors.

General information[]

The organization is part of a nationwide association of health care plans licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. This Association licenses companies to offer certain products and services under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand. The Tennessee-licensed organization is an independent, locally-governed, tax-paying not-for-profit health plan.^[3] It is based in Chattanooga, and also has offices in Jackson, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville. It employs more than 6,000 people.

History[]

BlueCross was founded in 1945 when Roy McDonald saw the need to establish a payment system that would benefit Erlanger Hospital, now the Erlanger Health System. McDonald was chairman of the Erlanger board when the Tennessee State Hospital Association was formed on Sept. 13, 1945, which was the birth of BlueCross. He would serve on the Erlanger board for more than 20 years. McDonald would be the organization's first president, serving in that role until 1959, and he would be chairman of the BlueCross board for the next 45 years until his death.

References[]

• BCBST Company Profile
• Moments in Memory | Times Free Press

External links[]

• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee official website