Health Care Service Corporation Nationally Recognized For Outstanding Commitment to Community

Points of Light and Bloomberg LP Honor HCSC as one of 'The Civic 50'

News provided by

Dec 08, 2014, 09:00 ET

CHICAGO, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer, was recognized today as one of America's most community-minded companies as part of The Civic 50. The Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light, in partnership with Bloomberg LP, honors the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year.

HCSC, which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, was honored for its work to improve health and wellness in its local communities. Of note, HCSC was recognized for its commitment to improve the quality of life in the communities where it does business, evidenced though the following initiatives:

Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® invests in and partners with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. More than 7 million children have been impacted by this effort;
Blue Corps^SM, HCSC's employee volunteer program, promotes and encourages volunteerism across the organization in addition to providing regular recognition and appreciation activities for volunteers. In 2013, more than 45,000 volunteer hours were captured, resulting in more than $200,000 in matching grants to nonprofit community partners; and
Be Covered works to educate the estimated 9 million uninsured individuals that reside in HCSC's five states about the important changes occurring as a result of health care reform. The campaign has hosted more than 550 events with more than 250 established community organizations, schools, religious institutions and doctors to provide easy-to-understand educational information, in both English and Spanish, as well as practical tools and tips to help individuals navigate the changes within the health care marketplace.

"Recognition among The Civic 50 honors the hard work and dedication of the more than 20,000 employees who live and work in the communities our customers call home," said Pat Hemingway Hall, president and CEO, HCSC. "Their special connection with our 14.5 million members extends beyond the workplace into neighborhoods across the states we serve. It is evidenced by a deep and personal commitment to stand with our customers, partners, doctors and hospitals to make our shared communities healthier, more productive and sensitive to individual need."

Created in 2012, The Civic 50 measures corporate civic engagement and recognizes companies that incorporate socially responsible practices and community leadership into their culture. Points of Light, the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service, conducted the survey in partnership with Bloomberg LP. The survey was developed under the guidance of an academic panel of nine experts from leading universities throughout the country. The survey evaluates companies based on several criteria including how extensively and strategically resources are applied to community engagement, how a community engagement program supports business interests and integrates into business functions.

"Together with our many community partners, we are making solid progress to find, fund and foster innovative, local ideas that can measurably improve the health of the most vulnerable people who live in our five states," said David Sandor, vice president, public affairs and corporate communications, HCSC. "Our employees play a pivotal role by advancing our mission through volunteerism with organizations that share our vision of helping children and their families have access to the resources they need to live healthy lives."

To view a complete list of The Civic 50 companies for 2014 and to learn more about the importance of civic engagement in corporate America, please visit www.Civic50.org.

About Health Care Service Corporation
Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 14 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us at www.twitter.com/HCSC.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130401/AQ85974LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/health-care-service-corporation-nationally-recognized-for-outstanding-commitment-to-community-300005375.html

SOURCE Health Care Service Corporation