Capital Blue Cross | Company Profile

About Capital Blue Cross

If you dwell in the Lehigh Valley, Capital BlueCross could be your direct link to health care coverage. A licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the company provides health insurance products to individuals and employer groups, with a total of about 1 million members in central and eastern Pennsylvania. It offers traditional, PPO, HMO, and POS health care plans, as well as dental and vision coverage and Medicare Advantage plans. Capital BlueCross' network includes more than 18,000 health care providers and some 40 hospitals. The company also provides benefits administration services to self-funded customers through for-profit subsidiary Capital Administrative Services (dba NCAS Pennsylvania).

Operations

Capital BlueCross provides additional health care coverage through its Keystone Health Plan Central (including Medicare HMO and Medicaid plans) and Capital Advantage Insurance subsidiaries. Its for-profit Avalon Insurance and Consolidated Benefits subsidiaries, which are not licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, sell life, long-term disability, and accidental death insurance. Geneia Clinical Care Solutions helps health care organizations manage accountability and risk.

The company's supplemental plans include vision coverage provided through a partnership with National Vision Administrators, prescription drug benefits managed by CVS Health, and dental benefits administered by Dominion Dental Services USA. Capital BlueCross also runs its own dental plan provider, Dominion Dental, which serves some 550,000 dental plan members in Pennsylvania and in other Mid-Atlantic states).

To help members with keeping up-to-date on payments, Capital BlueCross offers a couple of programs. Check It Out is an automated payment option that deducts clients' premiums directly from their bank accounts, while Entrust reminds members when their health care bills are past due.

Geographic Reach

The company serves 21 counties in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

Sales and Marketing

Capital BlueCross markets its products through its agents, brokers, and doctors.

Strategy

Capital BlueCross focuses on improving patient satisfaction, enhancing quality of care and reducing costs. In addition to focusing on customer retention through wellness, education, and support programs, Capital BlueCross is regularly looking to expand its customer base by adding affordable health plan offerings and attracting new members.

In 2014 Capital BlueCross and PinnacleHealth teamed up to offer businesses a new health insurance plan for their employees. Marketed as CareConnect Point of Service, this plan connects the benefits and services of Capital BlueCross with the physicians and facilities of PinnacleHealth. Similarly, the company joined together with St. Luke's University Health Network in 2014 to launch a regional accountable care arrangement.

In 2013 the company introduced mobile applications for better serving its customers needs.

Company Background

Capital BlueCross has its origins in two hospital service plans that began in the 1930s: Easton Hospital Association (which later became Blue Cross of the Lehigh Valley) and Capital Hospital Service (which was renamed Capital BlueCross in 1965). The two entities merged in 1985.

Capital Blue Cross

2500 ELMERTON AVE
Harrisburg, PA 17177-9799
Phone: 1 (717) 541-7000

Stats

Employer Type: Privately Owned
Vice President Finance: Michael Cleary
Information Technology Manager: Kevin Herzer
Director Information Technology Services: George Mckee
Employees (This Location): 1,000
Employees (All Locations): 1,900

Major Office Locations

Harrisburg, PA

Other Locations

Allentown, PA
Harrisburg, PA
Arlington, VA

Competitors

Aetna Inc.
Cigna Holding Company
Highmark Inc
Independence Hospital Indemnity Plan, Inc.
Unitedhealth Group Incorporated