March 12, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement about the plan from Cambia Health Solutions, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina:
“Cambia Health Solutions and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina have notified me that they plan to merge operations and administrative functions, while continuing to operate their insurer plans and networks independently.
“As I undertake the regulatory process to review this request, I will work closely with the insurance regulators in North Carolina, Utah, Oregon and Idaho. The process will take several months as we carefully assess the potential impact of the proposal on policyholders and the health insurance market, as well as its compliance with state insurance laws.
“I encourage innovation that results in cost savings or other benefits to consumers and will be considering the effect this proposal would have on consumers in our state.”
Cambia is the parent company of Regence Blue Shield; Asuris NW Health; BridgeSpan Health Co.; and LifeMap Assurance Co. in Washington state.
It is also the parent of Regence BCBS of Oregon and Regence Blue Shield of Idaho Inc. and operates in Oregon, Idaho and Utah.
Cambia Health Solutions, Inc. is the fifth largest health insurance group in Washington state with 11.46 percent of the state-regulated market and approximately 530,000 enrollees.