Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's federal employee program (fep) administers the Blue Cross and Blue Shield service benefit plan. Approximately 67.2 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. 2023 was another strong year for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield federal employee program (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 38 consecutive years of open season enrollment growth, and retention remains at a high-level at 99.3 percent.

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.

As an Association of member plans, the Association coordinates advertising and communication programs, providing policy and representation of member interests, monitors and fosters the financial stability of all the plans and supports the ability of the plans to operate efficiently by providing conferences, consulting and miscellaneous services to the plans.

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.