Highmark was created in 1996 by the consolidation of two Pennsylvania licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association — Pennsylvania Blue Shield (now Highmark Blue Shield) and Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania (now Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield). They are now one of the largest health insurers in the United States.

Highmark's officers and board of directors set the company’s strategic direction and corporate policies. They are guided by both our mission, which is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives, and our vision to be the leading customer-focused health insurer in the communities Highmark serves.

About Highmark Blue Shield

As the largest health insurer in Pennsylvania, Highmark is committed to its mission to provide access to affordable, quality health care, enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million members in Pennsylvania and West Virginia through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health.

Highmark Blue Shield, Inc.

Corporate Headquarters:
7248 Tilghman St Ste 100
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18106
(610) 573-5406
CEO:
Kenneth R. Melani, M.D.
Employee Number:
12,000
2008 Revenue:
$13 billion

Product Types Offered

Individuals

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a variety of medically underwritten  and guaranteed issue plans to fit your health insurance needs. To find a plan that suits you, select a category below and learn more about the products available to individuals living in the 29 counties of western Pennsylvania.
Here are the plans offered by Highmark:

ShortTermBlue
An Individual Comprehensive Major Medical Preferred-Provider, with $250, $500 and $1,000 Deductible options.

CompleteCare
An Individual Comprehensive Major Medical Health Plan, with $500 and $1,000 Deductible options.  

PPOBlue GI/MU 
An Individual Comprehensive Major Medical Preferred-Provider High-Deductible Health Plan, with $1,200, $2,600 and $3,500 Deductible options.

DirectBlue
An Individual Comprehensive Major Medical Preferred-Provider Health Plan, with $250, and $500 Deductible options.

PreferredBlue
An Individual Comprehensive Major Medical Preferred-Provider Health Plan, with $500 and $1,000 Deductible options.  

KeystoneBlue HMO
An Individual Health Maintenance Organization (HMO); Medically Underwritten

Employers

Highmark offers the following plans for employers:

PPOBlue
Highmark’s most flexible plan. Your employees enjoy real network flexibility while you can choose from a variety of benefit options - from qualified high-deductible health plans to plan designs that offer first-dollar, in-network coverage. 

EPOBlue
If you have employees throughout the country, this plan lets you offer one consistent benefit design with the convenience and affordability of an HMO. Employees can receive quality care from network providers without a referral and with no need to file claims.

ClassicBlue
An indemnity programs that offer broad coverage, the freedom to choose any providers and, in many cases, no need to file claims. Choose from traditional, first-dollar plan designs and more affordable comprehensive major medical programs that include an annual deductible and coinsurance.

KeystoneBlue
An HMO that gives your employees access to the largest local provider network plus maximum convenience. No referrals are required for specialty care, out-of-pocket expenses are low, and there's no need to file claims.

BlueWorldwide Expat
Designed for U.S. workers who live and work overseas, this program offers comprehensive benefits and reliable access to medical coverage.

SecurityBlue
Highmark’s Medicare Advantage HMO available to your Medicare-eligible group participants who live in the 17-county western Pennsylvania service area. Includes all Medicare-covered services, plus preventive, vision and hearing care, SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, and options for Medicare Part D.

Federal Employee Program
The Federal Employee Program Service Benefit Plan offers you the choice between two Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) programs.

Medicare Plans

Since Medicare was first introduced in 1965, Highmark has provided health coverage for millions of people. Think of us as your partner in helping you to better understand your Medicare choices and access the important benefits available to you.

Highmark offers a variety of health care coverage plans just for people with Medicare: Medicare Supplemental Programs help pay for the health care expenses that Original Medicare does not cover:

FreedomBlue PPO
FreedomBluesm PPO is a Medicare Advantage Preferred-Provider Organization (PPO). It covers all of the health care you need, including preventive care, doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, and most plans cover prescription drugs. Plus, you get added benefits like vision and hearing care. FreedomBlue PPO lets you choose where you receive your care, in the network of 62 Pennsylvania counties and throughout all counties in West Virginia, or out of the network.

FreedomBlue PFFS
FreedomBlue PFFS is a Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan from Highmark Blue Shield. It offers dependable health care coverage for a broad range of services without the restrictions you may encounter with a provider network. It gives you the freedom to choose your healthcare providers anywhere in the country as long as they participate with Medicare and agree to our payment terms and conditions.

BlueRx
BlueRx Medicare Prescription Drug Plans from Highmark Senior Resources are available to people with Medicare who live in West Virginia or Pennsylvania. All three BlueRx plans cover all drugs allowed by Medicare. These drugs are listed on our large formulary. You pay a low copayment for each drug, and there are no annual drug maximums.

MedigapBlue
MedigapBlue Medicare Supplement Programs pay for many of the costs that are not covered by Original Medicare. After Medicare pays for its part, a Medicare supplement or "Medigap" policy, like Highmark MedigapBlue, picks up the difference for many eligible services. MedigapBlue plans let you go directly to any provider or hospital you choose anywhere in the country.

Signature 65
Signature 65sm is a traditional indemnity plan that complements Medicare coverage. It's offered to Medicare-eligible retirees through an employer group or trust fund only. Ask your retiree benefits office if they offer you this plan.

Provider Network

Highmark Blue Shield has one of the country’s biggest provider networks. You can use Highmark Blue Shield’s online provider directory to learn more about doctors, hospitals, other medical services, dentists, vision care providers and pharmacies that work with your Highmark Blue Shield plan.

Network Facts

Membership:
Membership in Highmark health care programs in Pennsylvania and West Virginia reached 4.8 million in 2008.

Recent News

Here are some of the most recent news regarding Highmark Blue Shield:

Highmark Caring Place to honor North Hills volunteers

July 6, 2009 | Warrendale, Pa. — More than 2,400 hours dedicated to help grieving children and families
The Highmark Caring Place will recognize 66 volunteers from its Warrendale facility on Wednesday, July 8 at a reception at The Camelot banquet hall in Wexford. These individuals have collectively volunteered more than 2,400 hours — an average of nearly 36 hours each during the past year — in support of grieving children, adolescents and their families at the Caring Place facility in Warrendale.

"The Highmark Caring Place sessions for grieving children and their parents or guardians are available at no cost to any grieving family in the community and are conducted, to a large extent, by trained volunteers," said Highmark Caring Place Director Terese Vorsheck.(Continue Reading)

Rating

Highmark Blue Shield’s rating, as rated by A.M. Best Company. A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors.

Financial Strength Rating
Rating: A (Excellent)
Affiliation Code: g (Group)
Financial Size Category: XV ($2 Billion or greater)
Outlook: Negative
Action: Affirmed
Effective Date: June 15, 2009