Throughout the mid-20th century, these organizations became the dominant force in Maryland's health market, aided by state policies that exempted them from certain taxes in exchange for providing affordable coverage to the general public.
: Founded in 1937 as Maryland Hospital Service, Inc., it focused on covering hospital stays. bcbs maryland
: The organization recently launched programs like a community resource center in West Baltimore to provide in-person support for billing and health education. Today, CareFirst serves approximately 3
Today, CareFirst serves approximately 3.5 million members across Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia. As a nonprofit, it reinvests significantly into local communities: and Northern Virginia. As a nonprofit
The "Blues" in Maryland began as two separate entities focused on different parts of medical care:
: The two organizations merged to form Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland.
: In 2024 alone, CareFirst infused over $400 million into regional community impact initiatives.