Company Information

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) Overview

As the state’s largest health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is uniquely positioned to improve the health of everyone living in the state. It has the ability to work closely with doctors, hospitals and lawmakers to identify long-term solutions to the problems created by an ever-changing and dynamic health care marketplace. By listening to its members – who represent about one in every three Kansans – BCBSKS can hear about issues that are common concerns to many Kansans, and can lead the way in developing new programs and improved services.

BCBSKS was a pioneer in the “community group” method of enrollment and continues to offer products and services to Kansans of all ages whether they are enrolled through a large employer group, small employer or if they purchase their own insurance. BCBSKS offers plans that comply with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on both the federally-facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace and direct to Kansas consumers. All premiums and insured benefit programs must be filed with the Kansas Insurance Department.

Illustrating its commitment to national best practice standards and quality improvement, BCBSKS has received full URAC accreditation for Health Plan, Health Plan for Health Insurance Marketplace, Case Management and Disease Management. In addition, the company's subsidiary, BlueCross BlueShield Kansas Solutions, has been awarded accreditation status as a Health Plan HMO and as a Health Plan HMO for Health Insurance Marketplace.

As a mutual insurance company, BCBSKS is owned by its policyholders. Its board of directors consists of Kansans from different areas of the state, up to 16 policyholders who bring to the table practical experience in business, medicine, hospital administration and finance. Day-to-day operations are directed by an 11-person steering committee under the guidance of the company’s president/CEO. Customers and health care professionals have a voice in company activities through numerous advisory and liaison committees, as well as focus groups and surveys.

A BCBSKS identification card gives Kansans access to an expansive provider network in the company’s 103-county service area. The company’s service area includes all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte in the Kansas City metro area. The company's health enrollment represents approximately 30 percent of the population in its service area.

BCBSKS is a financially secure, billion-dollar company that contributes to the Kansas economy in several ways. The company regularly surpasses $3 billion in annual claims payments to health care providers and members. Additionally, BCBSKS contributes to the economy through payroll and taxes.

BCBSKS operates three subsidiaries – Advance Insurance Company of Kansas (AICK), BlueCross BlueShield Kansas Solutions, Inc., and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation. AICK sells life and disability plans in the BCBSKS service area. Solutions was incorporated in 2013 to give the company greater flexibility in designing benefit plans to meet the needs of the changing marketplace. The Foundation was incorporated in 2005 and seeks to funds programs and activities that are, at their core, health related.

BCBSKS is among the owners of Prime Therapeutics, LLC, a pharmacy benefit manager, and is a minority equity partner of New Directions Behavioral Health, a company that offers managed behavioral health care, employee assistance, organizational consulting and health coaching to its clients.

The BCBSKS headquarters are located in Topeka, the capital city of Kansas, and houses more than 1,450 employees. In addition, there are employees who work in offices in Dodge City, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Independence, Lawrence, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Salina and Wichita and remotely across the state.

BCBSKS is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association headquartered in Chicago. There are 34 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans throughout the United States. Each Plan is separate and independent, but all Plans cooperate with other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in the exchange of ideas, processing of claims and providing inter-plan services to customers.