The United States Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBSA) used to be two different organizations. One was called Blue Cross Association, and the other is the Association of Blue Shield Plans. Before 1929, health insurance did not exist, as hospitals and doctors did not possess the resources to be able to treat patients with anywhere near the thoroughness they do today.
They just simply did not have the appropriate equipment that hospitals and medical facilities have today. It is because Blue Cross and Blue Shilled appeared, health insurance came into fruition. Blue Cross came to be in 1929.
It was created to provide prepaid coverage for hospital care services. While Blue Shield began in 1939, and their attention was on hospital care. BlueCross and Blue Shield merged in 1982, and ever since, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has worked to provide personalized healthcare to every state and federal territory.