BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina


BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueCross serves 21.5 million people through private business and government contracts.
BlueCross has several subsidiaries, two of which are affiliates licensed with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Licensed subsidiaries include and . Non-licensed affiliates include , , , and .

History

BlueCross began as the South Carolina Hospital Service Plan, later becoming BlueCross of South Carolina, when the General Assembly passed legislation bringing this group into existence. In the spring of 1947, the South Carolina Hospital Service Plan merged with the Hospital Benefit Association of Greenville, giving them a financial base. In 1971, BlueShield of South Carolina merged with BlueCross to form the current company.
On 13 July 2020, South Carolina's BlueCross BlueShield said it has given $11.6 million in grants from its fund to Prisma Health, South Carolina Medical University, the Healthier Generation Foundation, and the non-profit FoodShareSC. Improving fertility results for women with diabetes, rising the incidence of diabetes in adolescents, and adult diabetes prevention are the key priorities for the grant. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Megan Shellinger, Maternal Fetal Medicine Expert and Medical Director of the OB Clinic for Prisma Health Upstate, helped formulate the proposal. Her BlueCross BlueShield grant gave her family $1.5 million.

BlueChoice HealthPlan

BlueChoice HealthPlan was founded in 1984, originally as Companion HealthCare, and was the first health maintenance organization offered by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. To date, BlueChoice HealthPlan has nearly 200,000 members.
In 2008 the HMO added a Medicaid option called BlueChoice HealthPlan Medicaid for eligible South Carolinians.
In 2013, A.M. Best affirmed BlueChoice HealthPlan's A+ financial strength rating as part of the group rating for BCBSSC.

Coronavirus Pandemic

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina decided to waive all out-of-pockets fees of the members for COVID-19 related treatments.