Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE ASSOCIATION SERVES ITS MEMBERSHIP CONSISTING OF INDEPENDENT BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD MEMBER PLANS THAT OPERATE WITHIN SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREAS. THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO MEMBER PLANS AND COORDINATES GOVERNMENT SERVICES, SUCH AS THE CONTRACT UNDER THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM (FEP), WHICH IS THE CORE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE COMMON GOOD AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY BY FOSTERING BROADBASED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.
- Income
- $862.7 million
- Spending
- $851.5 million
- Employees
- 1,393
- Volunteers
- 33
- Highest pay
- $8.4 million, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $358.4 million spent. THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION'S FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PROGRAM (FEP) ADMINISTERS THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN. APPROXIMATELY 67.5 PERCENT OF ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES WHO RECEIVED THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM (FEHBP) ARE MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN RECEIVING HEALTH COVERAGE THROUGH MEMBER PLANS. THE SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN HAS BEEN PART OF THE FEHBP SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1960 AND IS THE LARGEST PLAN IN THE PROGRAM. 2024 WAS ANOTHER STRONG YEAR FOR THE FEP, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FEP DENTAL AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FEP VISION. WE ATTAINED HISTORIC LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT ON SEVERAL BUSINESS METRICS: ENROLLMENT OF OVER 5.6 MILLION MEMBERS AND A RECORD 39 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF OPEN SEASON ENROLLMENT GROWTH, AND RETENTION REMAINS AT A HIGH-LEVEL OF 99.3 PERCENT.
- $140.8 million spent. AS AN ASSOCIATION OF MEMBER PLANS, THE ASSOCIATION (1) COORDINATES ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS, PROVIDING POLICY AND REPRESENTATION OF MEMBER INTERESTS, (2) MONITORS AND FOSTERS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF ALL THE PLANS, AND (3) SUPPORTS THE ABILITY OF THE PLANS TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY BY PROVIDING CONFERENCES, CONSULTING AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES TO THE PLANS.
- $241.3 million spent. THE BLUECARD PROGRAM ENABLES BLUE PLAN MEMBERS TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THEIR INSURANCE CONTRACTS WHILE TRAVELING OR LIVING IN ANOTHER MEMBER PLAN'S GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA. THROUGH BLUECARD, BLUE PLAN MEMBERS ARE GIVEN SEAMLESS NATIONAL ACCESS TO PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS THAT PARTICIPATE IN BLUE NETWORKS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM LINKS PARTICIPATING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH THE INDEPENDENT BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD PLANS THROUGH A SINGLE ELECTRONIC NETWORK FOR CLAIMS PROCESSING AND REIMBURSEMENT.
- $84.8 million spent. THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES OPTIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS; OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE GROUP PACKAGE OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROGRAMS TO THE PLANS; A CLOSED PRIVATE, WIDE AREA NETWORK THAT LINKS THE COMPUTER AND INFORMATION RESOURCES OF THE PLANS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.