Reflections on our work toward high-quality, accessible health care for all at BlueCross
Emily J. Reynolds
Chairman of the Board, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
JD Hickey
President & CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
At BlueCross, 2024 was a year marked by our commitment to affordability and improving health outcomes while giving back to the communities we serve.
For nearly 80 years, we’ve been here for our members when the unexpected happens – to help them afford the critical care services they need. Last year, BlueCross paid more than $20 billion in medical claims for our members. That’s a clear indication that healthcare costs continue to skyrocket and that our role in managing healthcare prices is as important as ever.
Our members
This year, we introduced new plans with lower prices for those who purchase health insurance on their own. Expanding Network E, our lowest-cost network in Nashville and Memphis, to Chattanooga, provided a more budget-friendly option that still gives members access to high-quality care options. Network E is now an option in five of the state’s eight ACA Marketplace regions.
We also negotiated with providers and major hospital systems around the state to help make sure our members get the best care at the best price, wherever they are. That includes our innovative, competitive approach to Network S partnerships in Chattanooga.
Maintaining high-quality service continued to be our standard as evidenced by industry certifications and high-quality ratings for our plans and service. We also celebrated with many of our outstanding provider partners across the state for helping their patients achieve exceptional care outcomes.
Our community
We launched our second annual health equity report, which guided our focus on improving health outcomes for all of our members. This data helped us prioritize support for health literacy, immunization, well-child screenings and mental health services, because we knew that’s where we could have the greatest impact.
Our TeamBlue employee volunteers spent over 17,000 hours volunteering in person and virtually with more than 500 organizations across the state of Tennessee.
Being a good corporate citizen is also embedded in our daily work. We work hard to be good stewards of natural resources, and we contribute to the vitality of our communities through the hundreds of millions in local, state and federal tax dollars we pay each year.
Our people
Our people say BlueCross is a great place to work and that people of all backgrounds can succeed here. We know that directly translates to caring and compassionate customer service. When we take care of our people, they’re more inclined to go above and beyond for the people we serve. We see that every day as our employees deliver on our mission.
Kaitlin’s story is a great example of how this commitment to our employees – and the unique backgrounds they bring to BlueCross – gives us a competitive advantage. Our people genuinely understand the individuals we serve.
This year, we were thrilled to welcome our first cohort of BlueSky Institute graduates as full-time BlueCross employees. These newly trained professionals bring fresh perspectives and skills in hard-to-fill tech jobs, enhancing our ability to provide innovative solutions that help our members.
These are just a few ways we worked toward our mission in 2024. Thank you for reading our annual impact report and for continuing to let us be your partner on your health care journey.
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BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust and BlueCare Tennessee are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a Qualified Health Plan issuer in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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