Blue Cross Health Insurance PPO

These service organizations represent producers cooperatives.   Hospitals and physicians who sponsor Blue Cross Health Insurance PPO plans are providing the insurance, therefore they are considered to be the producers of the cooperative.

Originally Blue Cross and Blue shield were separate voluntary and tax-exempt associations.  Blue Cross provided payments to hospitals and Blue Shield covered physicians, medical and surgical fees.  People originally covered under these plans were traditionally known as subscribers since Blue Cross and Blue shield differ from traditional insurance companies. 

In most states, the two have merged, but each group still covers the expenses for which they were initially created.  Over the years the tax advantages they originally enjoyed have deteriorated and many states have removed their exempt status.  Additionally the federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 now makes them taxable as insurance companies.

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