Health Care Service Corporation
Encyclopedia
Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), with 13 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, is the nation’s largest non-investor-owned (NIO) health insurer and fourth largest overall.
Unlike a stockholder-owned company, a NIO — or customer-owned — company does not have third-party investors to demand priorities that could place financial returns ahead of service to its members.
HCSC, which has approximately 17,000 employees in more than 60 local offices, offers PPO, HMO, POS, traditional indemnity and Medicare Supplemental health plans. It provides dental, life and disability insurance through Dearborn National, the marketing name for HCSC subsidiaries Dental Network of America, Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co., Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co. of New York and Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Co.
With ratings of A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company, AA- (Very Strong) from Standard & Poor’s and A1 (Good) from Moody’s Investors Service, HCSC is one the most financially secure health insurers. It also is one of the nation’s most recognized companies for compliance, diversity and community outreach.
HCSC maintains its headquarters in Chicago and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
As president and CEO, Pat Hemingway Hall oversees HCSC’s operations. Before assuming her current position in 2008, Hemingway Hall was president and chief operating officer. Previously, she had served as executive vice president of HCSC Internal Operations and as Texas Division president. She joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas in 1993. Hemingway Hall has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry and has held management positions with A. Foster Higgins, Aetna/Partners Health Plans, Voluntary Hospitals of America, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public health, health planning and administration from the University of Michigan.
Martin G. Foster, Executive Vice President and President of Plan Operations
Colleen F. Reitan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Kenneth S. Avner, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Paul B. Handel, M.D., Senior Vice President and Enterprise Chief Medical Officer
Milton Carroll, Chairman of the Board
Unlike a stockholder-owned company, a NIO — or customer-owned — company does not have third-party investors to demand priorities that could place financial returns ahead of service to its members.
HCSC, which has approximately 17,000 employees in more than 60 local offices, offers PPO, HMO, POS, traditional indemnity and Medicare Supplemental health plans. It provides dental, life and disability insurance through Dearborn National, the marketing name for HCSC subsidiaries Dental Network of America, Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co., Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Co. of New York and Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Co.
With ratings of A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company, AA- (Very Strong) from Standard & Poor’s and A1 (Good) from Moody’s Investors Service, HCSC is one the most financially secure health insurers. It also is one of the nation’s most recognized companies for compliance, diversity and community outreach.
HCSC maintains its headquarters in Chicago and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
History
Founded in 1936, HCSC operated as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois until 1998, when it merged with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. In 2001, HCSC acquired Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico; and in 2005, it merged with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma.Community Relations and Charitable Giving
HCSC’s Care Van programs are among the most successful mobile immunization efforts in the country. In 2011, the company announced a major new commitment to caring called Healthy Kids, Healthy Families — a three-year initiative to improve the health of at least 1 million children through community investments.Leadership Team
Patricia A. Hemingway Hall, President and Chief Executive OfficerAs president and CEO, Pat Hemingway Hall oversees HCSC’s operations. Before assuming her current position in 2008, Hemingway Hall was president and chief operating officer. Previously, she had served as executive vice president of HCSC Internal Operations and as Texas Division president. She joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas in 1993. Hemingway Hall has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry and has held management positions with A. Foster Higgins, Aetna/Partners Health Plans, Voluntary Hospitals of America, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in public health, health planning and administration from the University of Michigan.
Martin G. Foster, Executive Vice President and President of Plan Operations
Colleen F. Reitan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Kenneth S. Avner, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Paul B. Handel, M.D., Senior Vice President and Enterprise Chief Medical Officer
Milton Carroll, Chairman of the Board