| The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is | | | | Blue Cross and Blue Cross of California are |
| the national trade organization that | | | | being scrutinized by California regulators |
| associates 38 independent regional health | | | | after 10 lawsuits were filed against Blue |
| insurance companies in the United States and | | | | Cross in March 2006 claiming that the company |
| Canada. It was formed in the 1982 fusion of | | | | had not acted in a good loyalty to thwart |
| the Blue Cross Association and the National | | | | fraud and it also had a special department |
| Association of Blue Shield Plans that are | | | | specifically set up to methodically look for |
| founded basically in Chicago, Illinois. Both | | | | any justification to reject coverage for |
| organizations trace their histories to health | | | | large claims.When the company issues a |
| plans that were created around the same time | | | | medical insurance policy, the person insured |
| in two different parts of the U.S. The | | | | thinks he or she has medical coverage and |
| progression of managed health care in the | | | | relies on it and the person can find out |
| United States is closely linked to the | | | | other coverage if the company has a |
| designs of Blue Cross-Blue Shield.Blue Cross | | | | legitimate reason for denying coverage and |
| and Blue Shield Plans are presenting Medicare | | | | tells the person at the time of the insurance |
| Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug | | | | application. |
| Plans in local markets across the country. | | | | |