About Premera Blue Cross
Premera Blue Cross is a leading health care coverage provider to more than 1.8 million residents of Washington State, Oregon, and Alaska. A licensee of the
Operations
The company operates as Premera Blue Cross in Washington and as Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield in Alaska, representing a network of 27,000 healthcare professionals. Through its affiliation with the
Other companies run by Premera include Calypso Healthcare Solutions, a provider of claims payment tools and services to health insurers, and Ucentris Insured Solutions, a life and health insurance distributor. The Vivacity subsidiary, which provides wellness services and products, serves employers looking to cut health care costs and increase productivity by encouraging a healthier workforce.
Geographic Reach
Premera Blue Cross is headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Washington, with operations in Seattle and Spokane, and in Anchorage. It serves businesses and residents of Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State, excluding Clark County.
Sales and Marketing
Premera's clients include
Financial Performance
The company's operating revenues increased by a marginal 0.5% to $3.4 billion in 2013 thanks to higher premium revenues and administrative fees, and growth in self-funded customers (61% of its membership in 2013, compared to 57% in 2012). A large portion of this growth came from self-funded employers, as its existing base of customers increased their membership. Premera also added a number of new self-funded clients in 2013, including Amazon.
Net income increased 33% to $130 million in 2013 due to decreases in benefit expenses, as well as increases in realized gains on investments.
Strategy
Though its other operating subsidiaries have largely remained profitable, Premera has struggled with losing members in core markets because of increasing competition, as well as tough economic conditions and high unemployment rates. The company is working to reverse the trend by introducing new health plans. In 2014 the company partnered with
In a move to expand its individual customer base, Premera entered the Medicare Advantage market (available in five counties across Washington) in 2014.
In 2013, as part of its mission to provide innovative programs focused on wellness and prevention, Premera teamed up with
Company Background
Premera was founded in 1998 through the merger of Medical Service Corporation, a Blue plan covering eastern Washington founded in 1933, and Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska, which was founded in 1945. For several years (starting in 2002), Premera attempted to convert into a for-profit company; it finally abandoned the plan in 2007 after the state's insurance commissioner and Washington health care providers continued to oppose the move.
7001 220th St Sw Bldg 1
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-2160
Phone: (425) 670-4000
Employer Type: Privately Owned
President and CEO: H. R. Brereton Barlow
SVP Operations: Kirsten Kemp
CEO: Jeff Roe
Employees (This Location): 1,600
Employees (All Locations): 3,000
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Anchorage, AK
Portland, OR
Spokane, WA