Today, CareFirst serves approximately 3.5 million members across Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia. As a nonprofit, it reinvests significantly into local communities:
: The entities officially adopted the names Maryland Blue Cross and Maryland Blue Shield. bcbs maryland
: Under current CEO Brian Pieninck, the company has maintained a 75% commercial market share in Maryland. Today, CareFirst serves approximately 3
: The two organizations merged to form Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland. : The two organizations merged to form Blue
: Founded in 1937 as Maryland Hospital Service, Inc., it focused on covering hospital stays.
The story of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland is one of regional consolidation and a long-standing commitment to nonprofit healthcare in the Mid-Atlantic. Today, it operates primarily as CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield , the largest health insurer in Maryland and the surrounding region.
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.