Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 4

 About

Our Story

Highmark's Corporate Profile


One of America's leading health insurance organizations and an independent licensee of the
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Highmark Inc. (the Health Plan) and its affiliated health
plans (collectively, the Health Plans) work passionately to deliver high-quality, accessible,
understandable, and affordable experiences, outcomes, and solutions to customers. Highmark
Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of approximately 7 million
members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and West Virginia. Its diversified businesses
serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance
and other related businesses.

Highmark's History
Our history began during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the genesis of the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield movement when our predecessor companies were established to help
Pennsylvania's residents pay for health care.

To ensure the availability of funds to pay for hospital and medical services, respectively, a
hospital association based in Pittsburgh sponsored the formation of an organization later
known as Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania (now Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield). The
Pennsylvania Medical Society backed the founding of Pennsylvania Blue Shield (now Highmark
Blue Shield). In 1996, the two Blue plans were consolidated, forming Highmark Inc. Highmark is
now one of the largest health insurers in the United States.

These two plans were unique organizations from the outset — nonprofit corporations
structured along traditional business lines. Without shareholders to satisfy, margins were held
in reserve, applied to subsidize the cost of coverage for poor health risks, or reinvested in the
business.

Leading the way

https://www.highmark.com/about/our-story#:~:text=Highmark's% 0Society%20backed,insurers%20in%20the%20United%20States. 6/1/24, 3 18 PM


Page 1 of 4
:
2
As independent organizations from the mid-1930s to the mid-1990s, Blue Cross of Western
Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield introduced several innovations, including a
children's health insurance program that became the model for the national CHIP program and
a dedicated program for seniors that predated Medicare, which helped to ensure access to
health care services for the widest possible cross section of the community.

The consolidation of Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield,
approved by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on November 27, 1996, resulted in a new
company — Highmark Inc. Highmark began operations on December 6, 1996, conducting
business in Western Pennsylvania as Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and in the rest of
Pennsylvania as Pennsylvania Blue Shield, partnering with three Blue Cross plans to provide
complete coverage.

Upon forming a partnership with Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1999, Highmark
became the primary licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield service marks in West Virginia.
In January 2011, after a nearly 12-year affiliation, Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield
changed its name to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia (Highmark West Virginia).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware signed an affiliation agreement with Highmark in 2010. In
late 2011, the agreement was approved and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware joined
Highmark. To reflect its relationship with Highmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware
became Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware (Highmark Delaware) in 2012.

In 2015, Highmark secured final approval from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to
merge with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA). Upon completion of the
agreement, the newly merged company operates as Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and
continues to provide health insurance coverage and administrative services to nearly 550,000
individuals in BCNEPA's 13-county service area. This merger helped to create greater health
care efficiencies and new products and services for customers in northeastern and north
central Pennsylvania.

In March of 2021, Highmark Inc. announced the completion of its affiliation with HealthNow
New York Inc. The newly affiliated organization was rebranded Highmark Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Western New York and Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York and serves
members in 21 counties in northeastern and western New York. The affiliation brought
Highmark health plan membership to more than 6 million people at the time.

In January of 2023, Highmark announced plans to offer customers located in Southeastern


Pennsylvania a full suite of health insurance products and solutions as Highmark Blue Shield,
including Medicare Advantage, Medicaid dual eligible, Individual Affordable Care Act, Small
Group Affordable Care Act, Large Group Fully Insured, Large Group Self-Insured across 2024
and 2025.

Dan Tropeano has been named the organization’s first ever Southeastern Pennsylvania

https://www.highmark.com/about/our-story#:~:text=Highmark's% 0Society%20backed,insurers%20in%20the%20United%20States. 6/1/24, 3 18 PM


Page 2 of 4
:
2
segment president, a major milestone as Highmark plans to strengthen its statewide presence
and community-focused service by offering a wide range of health insurance solutions in
Southeastern Pennsylvania starting in 2024.

Customer Service
1 (800) 241-5704

About Highmark 
Be Informed 
Related Sites 

Highmark is a registered mark of Highmark Inc. © 2024 Highmark Inc., All Rights
Reserved.

All references to “Highmark” in this document are references to the Highmark company
that is providing the member’s health benefits or health benefit administration and/or to
one or more of its affiliated Blue companies. This website is operated by Highmark, Inc.
and is not the Health Insurance Marketplace website. It also does not display all Qualified
Health Plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace website. To see all
available Qualified Health Plan options, go to the Health Insurance Marketplace website
at HealthCare.gov.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield are Medicare Advantage HMO,
PPO, and/or Part D plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in these plans depends on
https://www.highmark.com/about/our-story#:~:text=Highmark's% 0Society%20backed,insurers%20in%20the%20United%20States. 6/1/24, 3 18 PM
Page 3 of 4
:
2
contract renewal. ®Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the Cross and Shield symbols are
registered service marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of
independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Benefits and/or benefit administration
may be provided by or through the following entities, which are independent licensees of
the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: Western and Northeastern PA: Highmark Inc.
d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Health
Insurance Company, Highmark Coverage Advantage Inc., Highmark Benefits Group Inc.,
First Priority Health, First Priority Life or Highmark Senior Health Company. Central and
Southeastern PA: Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield, Highmark Benefits Group
Inc., Highmark Health Insurance Company, Highmark Choice Company or Highmark
Senior Health Company. PA: Your plan may not cover all your health care expenses.
Read your plan materials carefully to determine which health care services are covered.
For more information, call the number on the back of your member ID card or, if not a
member, call 866-459-4418. Delaware: Highmark BCBSD Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue
Cross Blue Shield. West Virginia: Highmark West Virginia Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross
Blue Shield, Highmark Health Insurance Company or Highmark Senior Solutions
Company. Visit our website to view the Access Plan required by the Health Benefit Plan
Network Access and Adequacy Act. You may also request a copy by contacting us at
the number on the back of your ID card. Western NY: Highmark Western and
Northeastern New York Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Northeastern NY:
Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield.

https://www.highmark.com/about/our-story#:~:text=Highmark's% 0Society%20backed,insurers%20in%20the%20United%20States. 6/1/24, 3 18 PM


Page 4 of 4
:
2

You might also like