Company timeline

1948

The Arkansas Medical Society, the Arkansas Hospital Association and the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation joined forces to establish the state’s first pre-paid health insurance program. On Dec. 3, 1948, Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jack G. McKenzie approved the articles of incorporation of Arkansas Medical and Hospital Service, Inc., which eventually became Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

1965

The federal government chose the company as fiscal intermediary for the newly formed Medicare program’s operations in Arkansas. At the time, the company employed more than 700 employees to handle an annual volume of more than $3.2 billion in Medicare Part B (physician benefits) claims in five states for more than 2.4 million beneficiaries.

1975

Arkansas Blue Cross established the company that would eventually become USAble Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, to offer a more diversified array of insurance and administration services. The company owns USAble Life; The First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America (which operates USAble Administrators); and USAble Systems, Inc. In addition, USAble Corporation is half-owner of HMO Partners, Inc., the holding company for Health Advantage.

1984

The company founded HMO Arkansas, the state’s third health maintenance organization.

1985

The company was awarded the Medicare Part B intermediary contract for Louisiana. At the time, the company maintained a 180-employee operation in Baton Rouge, LA., and served more than 560,885 Medicare beneficiaries in the Bayou State.

1987

The company became a mutual insurance company, which means it is owned by its policyholders — not by stockholders. As a mutual insurer, Arkansas Blue Cross pays no dividends, but rather uses all revenue to cover administrative costs and pay claims for members. Any excess funds are held in reserve to pay future claims.

1993

Through USAble Corporation, the company founded Arkansas’ FirstSource, the state’s largest preferred provider organization (PPO). With more than 4,200 providers and 90 hospitals, Arkansas’ FirstSource at the time served more than 360,000 Arkansans.

1994

HMO Arkansas, the state’s only federally qualified HMO, and Baptist Medical System’s Health Advantage joined forces to become the state’s largest HMO.

1996

The company established seven full-service regional offices throughout Arkansas. The offices (located in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Texarkana, with additional district offices in El Dorado and Russellville) are part of a commitment to bring health services closer to the customer.

In 1996, the company founded the state’s first Medicare HMO — MediPak HMO. Medi-Pak HMO became Arkansas’ largest HMO for Medicare recipients. Medi-Pak HMO, offered through Health Advantage, serving more than 8,300 members in 12 Arkansas counties.

1997

The company was awarded the Medicare Part B intermediary contract for the states of New Mexico and Oklahoma. About 170 employees staffed operations in Albuquerque and Oklahoma City, serving nearly 680,000 Medicare beneficiaries. In 1997, the company’s regional offices began establishing joint ventures with healthcare providers in their respective areas, allowing the parties involved in the financing, administration and delivery of health services to eliminate redundant processes, produce economies of scale and share in financial benefits and risks.

1998

The company was awarded the Medicare Part B intermediary contract for eastern Missouri (serving more than 808,000 beneficiaries) and assumed responsibility for the St. Louis operation, which employed 174 people.

Arkansas Blue Cross celebrated 50 years of service to Arkansans. A half century after its founding, Arkansas Blue Cross was the state’s largest health insurer, serving more than 775,000 members at the time.

2001

Arkansas Blue Cross created a charitable foundation, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, to help fund health programs in Arkansas.

2002

New, first-generation of consumer-directed healthcare products were introduced, which ultimately transitioned to the Blue~by~design Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) product line.

2005

Life and Specialty Ventures, LLC, a joint venture of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, was incorporated to provide life insurance and specialty products.

Arkansas Blue Cross was approved to sell Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance policies by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Arkansas Blue Cross formed a separate corporation, Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc. (PBSI) to administer its Public Programs operations that supported Medicare-related contracts.

2007

Arkansas Blue Cross began offering Medi-Pak Advantage, a Medicare Advantage non-network, private-fee-for-service health plan that combines Medicare benefits, prescription drug coverage and additional services all in one plan.

2011

To provide consumers with face-to-face access to health insurance experts, Arkansas Blue Cross opened ArkansasBlue, the state’s first retail health insurance store in 2011 in Little Rock. Additional ArkansasBlue stores have opened in Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Rogers, and Fayetteville.

2013

Arkansas Blue Cross began offering metallic on and off Exchange plans as part of the changes enacted through the Affordable Care Act.

2024

Launched Octave Blue Cross and Blue Shield products to offer individual consumer more options.

2025

Rebranded Medicare coverage to Arkansas BlueMedicare.

2026

Launched Skai Blue Cross Blue Shield products to offer groups more options.