Name change to go into effect January 1, 2019
MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (April 3, 2018) – Care1st Health Plan today announced it will operate as Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan starting in January 2019.
Care1st Health Plan, a provider-founded managed care company based in Los Angeles County, was acquired by Blue Shield of California in 2015 to help the nonprofit health plan fulfill its mission of providing all Californians access to high quality, affordable care.
Under its new name, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, along with its clinics in Palmdale and Lancaster, will continue to serve Medi-Cal and Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
“This exciting change reflects our new ability to expand our reach and serve more Californians under the Blue Shield name,” said Greg Buchert, M.D., M.P.H., president and CEO of Care1st Health Plan. “With this natural next step into the Blue Shield family, the more than 500,000 Californians that we serve can expect access to the same great doctors, services and community resources at their fingertips.”
Background on Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $17 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medi-Cal and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company’s mission is to ensure all Californians have access to high-quality care at an affordable price. Blue Shield has contributed more than $500 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation. Contact your local agent or broker about Blue Shield of California products and services or visit www.blueshieldca.com.
Background on Care1st Health Plan A plan dedicated to members first, Care1st Health Plan was founded in 1994 by a group of providers, organized medical groups, and hospitals with the heart of the community at the forefront of their minds. This dynamic team came together to create a pro-patient healthcare delivery system that has grown to over 500,000 members today. Now an affiliate of Blue Shield of California, Care1st offers Medi-Cal, Cal MediConnect, Medicare Advantage HMO, and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans. Healthcare professionals continue to lead Care1st as an expanding consumer-based organization, striving to deliver the right care, more choices, competitive health benefits and provider-focused service. For more information, please visit our website at www.care1st.com.