| Year |
|
Event(s) |
| 1934 |
- |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. is formed by a hospital association in Washington. |
| 1937 |
- |
In Maryland, a group of 15 hospitals in Baltimore agree to participate in Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore and begin using the Blue Cross service mark. |
| 1942 |
- |
Group Hospitalization, Inc., is sanctioned to use the Blue Cross service mark. |
| 1947 |
- |
Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore changes its name to Maryland Hospital Service in recognition of its statewide presence to provide health services to more than 500,000 members. |
| 1948 |
- |
A physicians group called Medical Service of the District of Columbia is founded. Two years later, the Maryland Medical Service, Inc. is incorporated and licensed to use the Blue Shield name. |
| 1951 |
- |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. becomes a fully participating member of the Blue Cross system. The following year, Medical Service of the District of Columbia is authorized to use the Blue Shield service mark. |
| 1957 |
- |
Maryland Hospital Services, Inc. enrollment reaches one million members. |
| 1959 |
- |
"Over 65" program introduced to provide limited coverage to persons age 65 and over not previously insured. |
| 1960 |
- |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. becomes the operations center for administering and maintaining medical records for newly created Federal Employee Program. |
| 1963 |
- |
Maryland Blues Plans introduce a "Senior Citizen" health care plan. Three years later, the Washington Blues Plans begin offering complementary Medicare coverage called Blue Cross 65 and Blue Shield 65. |
| 1969 |
- |
Maryland Hospital Service, Inc. (Blue Cross) and Maryland Medical Service (Blue Shield) change their names to Maryland Blue Cross and Maryland Blue Shield, respectively. |
| 1969 |
- |
Group Hospitalization (Blue Cross) and Medical Services (Blue Shield) moved to new location at 550 12th Street SW. In 1971, the Maryland Blues consolidated several offices by moving them to a central location at 700 E. Joppa Road in Towson. |
| 1972 |
- |
Maryland Blue Cross introduced a health maintenance program and offers the services of pre-paid group practice health plans as an alternative to traditional health care coverage. |
| 1980 |
- |
FreeState Health Plan created by the Maryland Plan to contract with independent health care organizations to provide members services. Two years later, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland acquires Columbia Medical Plan, the state's largest and most successful HMO. |
| 1984 |
- |
CapitalCare, Inc. is created by the Washington Area Plan as an independent practice HMO. Blue Cross of Maryland, Inc. and Blue Shield of Maryland, Inc. form one company -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland, Inc. (BCBSMD) |
| 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). |
| 1987 |
- |
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area introduces its first Preferred Provider Network, an option between traditional indemnity coverage and HMO-based plans. |
| 1989 |
- |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland moves corporate offices to Owings Mills. |
| 1991 |
- |
Maryland Plan acquires CareFirst Health Plan and Potomac Health Plan. |
| 1992 |
- |
Maryland Plan acquires Delmarva Health Plan, an Eastern Shore HMO. In Washington, BCBSMD becomes the subject of U.S. Senate examining Blues Plans throughout the U.S. with financial problems. The inquiry reveals patterns of executive mismanagement leading to the resignation of several senior executives. |
| 1993 |
- |
William L. Jews is selected as new President and Chief Executive Officer. |
| 1996 |
- |
Washington Area Plan, after major reorganization to improve efficiency, pushes surplus up 150 percent in three years, ranks first in performance among all Blues Plans in second quarter and begins to explore joint ventures with Maryland Plan. |
| 1997 |
- |
Maryland and Washington Blues announce intention to combine operations under a new holding company, CareFirst, Inc. |
| 1998 |
- |
Business combination gains regulatory approval, in January two companies go forward as one under new name CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. |
| 1999 |
- |
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield ends first year of combined operations with $3.9 billion in revenues, $75.7 million in net income, and reserves of $472 million. Total enrollment is approximately 2.5 million, reflecting a net increase during 1998 of 142,000 members. |
| 2000 |
- |
In March 2000, CareFirst enters an affiliation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, adding more than 200,000 new members and expanding the company's regional service area throughout the mid-Atlantic area. Membership surpasses three million. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield crosses the threshold of the new millennium at full stride. |
| 2001 |
- |
CareFirst, in dramatic move, announces intention to convert to for-profit status and be acquired by WellPoint Health Networks of Thousand Oaks, CA, one of the nation's largest health care companies. |
| 2002 |
- |
BCBSD in a cooperative effort with CareFirst, launches Personal Comp, a health benefits plan for individuals. |
| 2003 |
- |
The Maryland Insurance Commissioner rejects the CareFirst-WellPoint plan for conversion to for-profit and subsequent merger. The Maryland General Assembly subsequently enacts "reform" to reaffirm CareFirst's non-profit status and bar for five years any attempt to become a for-profit company. Headquarters for CareFirst operations in the Washington, D.C. area move to Union Plaza. Company revenue tops $7 billion. |
| 2004 |
- |
CareFirst Board of Directors reconstitutes in accordance with Maryland General Assembly mandate. Membership growth pushes total enrollment to 3.3 million. Company introduces CareEssentials, an innovative disease and care management strategy integrating prevention, utilization, disease management and case management. Revised mission statement defines broader role in community health care. |
| 2005 |
- |
Unveils CareFirst Commitment, a $92 million initiative focused on increasing affordability, access to care, patient quality and safety and diversity. |
| 2006 |
- |
In September 2006, CareFirst complies with Delaware Insurance Commissioner Denn's order to end its six-year affiliation with BCBSD. |
| 2006 |
- |
November 2, CareFirst announces departure of CEO, William L. Jews. |
| 2006 |
- |
November 2, David D. Wolf named interim President and CEO.
|
| 2007 |
- |
September 28, Chester "Chet" Burrell named CareFirst President and CEO.
|
| 2008 |
- |
February 15, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley lauds CareFirst for committing $4 million to close senior prescription drug doughnut hole.
|
