| 2018 |
July 1, Brian D. Pieninck assumes role as CareFirst President and CEO. |
| 2018 |
May 23, Brian D. Pieninck named to succeed Chet Burrell as CareFirst President and CEO. |
| 2018 |
CareFirst announces plans to invest $1.5 million in increase substance use disorder services in the region. |
| 2018 |
CareFirst named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for sixth consecutive year. |
| 2017 |
CareFirst contributed more than $33 million to public health care access programs and nonprofit health organizations. |
| 2017 |
September 22, CareFirst announces planned retirement of President and CEO Chet Burrell. |
| 2017 |
CareFirst among “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for fifth year in a row. |
| 2016 |
CareFirst increased overall community giving, investing $43.5 million in public health care access programs and nonprofit health organizations. |
| 2016 |
CareFirst invests locally to reinforce support for West Baltimore residents, families. Contributions to five nonprofit areas totaling $575,000 expands access to health care services for as many as 4,500 citizens. |
| 2016 |
CareFirst awards nearly $3 million to 10 regional health care organizations working to expand access to health care to underserved communities through the use of telemedicine. |
| 2016 |
CareFirst named one of the ‘World’s Most Ethical Companies’ for fourth straight year. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst gave more than $40 million to nonprofit health organizations and public health care access programs. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst announces $3 million investment in programs aimed at increasing patients’ access to telemedicine services in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst launches ‘Live Fearless’ ad campaign – the company’s first brand advertising campaign since 2013. |
| 2015 |
Wendell L. Johns named board chair of CareFirst’s National Capital Area subsidiary. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst awards $3.1 million to seven health care organizations working to improve the health of uninsured and underinsured mothers and their babies – particularly those in the National Capital Area, where the infant mortality rate still exceeds the national average. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst earns designation from Ethisphere as one of the world’s “Most Ethical Companies” for third consecutive year. |
| 2015 |
CareFirst earns designation from Ethisphere as one of the world’s “Most Ethical Companies” for third consecutive year. |
| 2014 |
CareFirst commits up to $3.3 million over the next three years in programs seeking to improve birth outcomes and lower infant mortality rates throughout the region. |
| 2014 |
CareFirst named to Ethisphere's "Most Ethical Companies" list for second straight year. |
| 2014 |
CareFirst pledges to invest more than $1.3 million to expand the use of telemedicine and increase access to quality behavioral health care in underserved rural and urban areas of Maryland and Washington, D.C. |
| 2013 |
CareFirst appoints new board chairs, including Linda Cropp of CFI board and Joseph Hall of CFMI. |
| 2012 |
CareFirst received a $24 million grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) designed to serve 25,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Maryland. |
| 2012 |
CareFirst contributed more than $57 million to fund community health programs. |
| 2012 |
CareFirst breaks record for Greater Baltimore Heart Walk, raising over $500,000 for AHA regional events. |
| 2012 |
CareFirst announced that nearly 60 percent of eligible primary care physicians and nurse practitioners earned increased reimbursements for their 2011 performance in CareFirst's PCMH program. |
| 2012 |
CareFirst launches its Safety Net Health Center Initiative, giving more than $8.5 million in grants to 12 safety net health centers in MD, D.C. and VA, to implement medical home and care coordination programs. |
| 2011 |
CareFirst contributed $51 million to community programs as part of the CareFirst Commitment initiative designed to increase accessibility, affordability and quality of health care throughout the service region. |
| 2011 |
More than 3,000 providers now participating in innovative Patient-Centered Medical Home, making the program the largest of its type in the nation. |
| 2010 |
September 20, CareFirst receives regulatory approval from the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) to launch its Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program, becoming the first insurer in Maryland to gain approval for a “single payer” medical home initiative. |
| 2010 |
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield launches HealthyBlue product, an innovative, new portfolio of health plans, designed to foster and reward healthy lifestyles and promote collaboration between patients and their primary care physicians. |
| 2008 |
February 15, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley lauds CareFirst for committing $4 million to close senior prescription drug doughnut hole. |
| 2007 |
September 28, Chester "Chet" Burrell named CareFirst President and CEO. |
| 2006 |
November 2, David D. Wolf named interim President and CEO. |
| 2006 |
November 2, CareFirst announces departure of CEO, William L. Jews. |
| 2006 |
In September 2006, CareFirst complies with Delaware Insurance Commissioner Denn's order to end its six-year affiliation with BCBSD. |
| 2005 |
Unveils CareFirst Commitment, a $92 million initiative focused on increasing affordability, access to care, patient quality and safety and diversity. |
| 2004 |
CareFirst Board of Directors reconstitutes in accordance with Maryland General Assembly mandate. Membership growth pushes total enrollment to 3.3 million. Company introduces CareEssentials, an innovative disease and care management strategy integrating prevention, utilization, disease management and case management. Revised mission statement defines broader role in community health care. |
| 2003 |
The Maryland Insurance Commissioner rejects the CareFirst-WellPoint plan for conversion to for-profit and subsequent merger. The Maryland General Assembly subsequently enacts "reform" to reaffirm CareFirst's non-profit status and bar for five years any attempt to become a for-profit company. Headquarters for CareFirst operations in the Washington, D.C. area move to Union Plaza. Company revenue tops $7 billion. |
| 2002 |
BCBSD in a cooperative effort with CareFirst, launches Personal Comp, a health benefits plan for individuals. |
| 2001 |
CareFirst, in dramatic move, announces intention to convert to for-profit status and be acquired by WellPoint Health Networks of Thousand Oaks, CA, one of the nation's largest health care companies. |
| 2000 |
In March 2000, CareFirst enters an affiliation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, adding more than 200,000 new members and expanding the company's regional service area throughout the mid-Atlantic area. Membership surpasses three million. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield crosses the threshold of the new millennium at full stride. |
| 1999 |
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield ends first year of combined operations with $3.9 billion in revenues, $75.7 million in net income, and reserves of $472 million. Total enrollment is approximately 2.5 million, reflecting a net increase during 1998 of 142,000 members. |
| 1998 |
Business combination gains regulatory approval, in January two companies go forward as one under new name CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. |
| 1997 |
Maryland and Washington Blues announce intention to combine operations under a new holding company, CareFirst, Inc. |
| 1996 |
Washington Area Plan, after major reorganization to improve efficiency, pushes surplus up 150 percent in three years, ranks first in performance among all Blues Plans in second quarter and begins to explore joint ventures with Maryland Plan. |
| 1993 |
William L. Jews is selected as new President and Chief Executive Officer. |
| 1992 |
Maryland Plan acquires Delmarva Health Plan, an Eastern Shore HMO. In Washington, BCBSMD becomes the subject of U.S. Senate examining Blues Plans throughout the U.S. with financial problems. The inquiry reveals patterns of executive mismanagement leading to the resignation of several senior executives. |
| 1991 |
Maryland Plan acquires CareFirst Health Plan and Potomac Health Plan. |
| 1989 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maryland moves corporate offices to Owings Mills. |
| 1987 |
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area introduces its first Preferred Provider Network, an option between traditional indemnity coverage and HMO-based plans. |
| 1985 |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. and Medical Services of the District of Columbia merged under the new name Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. (GHMSI). The company adopts a new trade name: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area (BCBSNCA). |
| 1984 |
CapitalCare, Inc. is created by the Washington Area Plan as an independent practice HMO. Blue Cross of Maryland, Inc. and Blue Shield of Maryland, Inc. form one company -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland, Inc. (BCBSMD) |
| 1980 |
FreeState Health Plan created by the Maryland Plan to contract with independent health care organizations to provide members services. Two years later, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maryland acquires Columbia Medical Plan, the state's largest and most successful HMO. |
| 1972 |
Maryland Blue Cross introduced a health maintenance program and offers the services of pre-paid group practice health plans as an alternative to traditional health care coverage. |
| 1969 |
Group Hospitalization (Blue Cross) and Medical Services (Blue Shield) moved to new location at 550 12th Street SW. In 1971, the Maryland Blues consolidated several offices by moving them to a central location at 700 E. Joppa Road in Towson. |
| 1969 |
Maryland Hospital Service, Inc. (Blue Cross) and Maryland Medical Service (Blue Shield) change their names to Maryland Blue Cross and Maryland Blue Shield, respectively. |
| 1963 |
Maryland Blues Plans introduce a "Senior Citizen" health care plan. Three years later, the Washington Blues Plans begin offering complementary Medicare coverage called Blue Cross 65 and Blue Shield 65. |
| 1960 |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. becomes the operations center for administering and maintaining medical records for newly created Federal Employee Program. |
| 1959 |
"Over 65" program introduced to provide limited coverage to persons age 65 and over not previously insured. |
| 1957 |
Maryland Hospital Services, Inc. enrollment reaches one million members. |
| 1951 |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. becomes a fully participating member of the Blue Cross system. The following year, Medical Service of the District of Columbia is authorized to use the Blue Shield service mark. |
| 1948 |
A physicians group called Medical Service of the District of Columbia is founded. Two years later, the Maryland Medical Service, Inc. is incorporated and licensed to use the Blue Shield name. |
| 1947 |
Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore changes its name to Maryland Hospital Service in recognition of its statewide presence to provide health services to more than 500,000 members. |
| 1942 |
Group Hospitalization, Inc., is sanctioned to use the Blue Cross service mark. |
| 1937 |
In Maryland, a group of 15 hospitals in Baltimore agree to participate in Associated Hospital Service of Baltimore and begin using the Blue Cross service mark. |
| 1934 |
Group Hospitalization, Inc. is formed by a hospital association in Washington. |
