Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Historic Moments 

• February 1934 - Representatives of six area hospitals got together and formed the Hospital Service Association of New Orleans, a nonprofit, mutual insurer that offered a form of pre-paid hospital care
• November 1934 - Mutual Hospital Service of Shreveport was formed
• 1938 - The Hospital Service Association of Alexandria was formed. A group of physicians and business leaders organized the Hospital Service Association of Baton Rouge
• 1948 - Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Shreveport Hospital Service plans consolidated to form the Louisiana Hospital Service. At that time, it was approved by the American Hospital Association as a Blue Cross Plan and began doing business as Blue Cross of Baton Rouge
• 1958 - Hospital Service Association of New Orleans became licensed as Blue Cross of Greater New Orleans
  1975 - Blue Cross of Baton Rouge and Blue Cross of Greater New Orleans consolidated to form a statewide organization, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, doing business as Blue Cross of Louisiana
• January 1, 1985 - Company began doing business as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to reflect the fact that both hospital and physician coverage were provided by one plan
• 1994 - Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, was created 
• 1996 - Company reactivated its subsidiary HMO Louisiana, Inc., offering managed care products

Our company continually renews our commitment to giving something back to the Louisiana communities in which we work and live. The company's philanthropic efforts through its Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation include two signature programs: Smart Bodies, a comprehensive, interactive health program for children grades K-5 that is a joint initiative with the LSU AgCenter, and the Angel Award, which seeks out, honors and rewards outstanding individuals who work tirelessly on behalf of Louisiana children.