Our History
Blue Shield of California is California’s largest state-only health plan. Formerly known as the California Physicians’ Service Foundation, it was established by physicians as a not-for-profit health plan. Blue Shield of California endows the Blue Shield of California Foundation through annual contributions. In 2002 Blue Shield of California reinvigorated the Foundation and initiated work focused on healthcare quality and access, medical technology assessment, and domestic violence prevention.
Blue Shield of California Foundation funding has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2003 the Foundation made grants totaling nearly $8 million. By 2007 nearly $30 million in grants was awarded to 358 California organizations.
Blue Shield of California Foundation devotes resources to immediate needs and long-term healthcare solutions. Vital support to hundreds of community clinics and domestic violence shelters offers urgent care for Californians. BSCF also has a long history in health policy and research. Projects have included development of an essential health insurance benefits package by medical professionals and cost analysis of Blue Shield of California’s “Universal Coverage, Universal Responsibility” proposal. The California Technology Assessment Forum, a BSCF project, identifies technologies to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of health care. The Foundation is now the leading private funder of domestic violence prevention in California.
Our Corporate Parent
Blue Shield of California Foundation is funded entirely by contributions from Blue Shield of California, a mission-based, not-for-profit health plan founded by physicians in 1939. We are a private foundation that shares the corporation's core mission of providing everyone access to quality health care. The Board of Trustees and staff of the Blue Shield of California Foundation operate independently of the parent corporation.
Blue Shield of California maintains its own community affairs, matching gifts and volunteerism programs.
