Highmark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Highmark, Inc. | |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 by Merger |
| Headquarters |  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Key people | Dr. Kenneth R. Melani, Chairman and CEO |
| Industry | Insurance |
| Products | Health Insurance |
| Revenue |  $6.8 billion USD |
| Employees | 11,800 |
| Website | www.highmark.com |
Highmark is a health insurance company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA. It is the largest health insurer in Pennsylvania, and through a purchase in 1996, the largest health insurer in West Virginia. It primarily serves the western and central parts of Pennsylvania, some areas of eastern Ohio, and all of West Virginia, although it has recently purchased a 40% stake in the largest health insurer in northeastern Pennsylvania as well. It is currently one of the largest not-for-profit health insurers in the United States which owns several lucrative for- profit subsidiaries.
Highmark was created in 1996 by the consolidation of two Pennsylvania licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association — Pennsylvania Blue Shield (now Highmark Blue Shield) based in suburban Harrisburg, and a Blue Cross plan in western Pennsylvania (now Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield). The consolidated group now serves 50 of the state's 67 counties. In West Virginia, the corporation took over the former Mountain State Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The new company based its head offices in Downtown Pittsburgh and features greatly expanded services.
Highmark is most notably mentioned for its Healthy High 5 Initiative - a pledge by Highmark of $100 million to help combat childhood obesity, and enable more individuals to live longer, healthier lives.
On March 28, 2007, Highmark announced that it intends to merge with Independence Blue Cross of Philadelphia. The combination of these insurers would create a new company with over 18,000 employees, with dual-headquarters in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The merger would create an economic impact of over $4 billion throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If necessary regulatory approvals are achieved, Kenneth R. Melani would remain Chief Executive Officer of the new company, and Joseph A. Frick, Independence Blue Cross's current President & CEO, would become the President & Chief Operating Officer. A determination has not yet been made as to the intended name for the combined entity.
| Pittsburgh-based Corporations (Within the Pittsburgh Metro Area) |
|---|
| Pittsburgh-based Fortune 500 Corporations: U.S. Steel | PPG | H.J. Heinz | PNC Financial | Mellon Financial | WESCO International |
| Pittsburgh-based Fortune 1000 Corporations: Allegheny Energy | Consol Energy | Allegheny Technologies | Dick's Sporting Goods | Kennametal | American Eagle Outfitters | Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel | Mylan |
| Pittsburgh-based Forbes Largest Private Companies: 84 Lumber | GNC | Giant Eagle | Sheetz |
| Externally owned, regionally based, and other Pittsburgh corporations: American Bridge | Ampco Pittsburgh | Bayer USA | Calgon Carbon | Dollar Bank | DQE Holdings | Eat'n Park | Federated Investors | FedEx Ground | GlaxoSmithKline | Guru.com | Highmark | iGate | Koppers | Michael Baker | Mine Safety Appliances | NOVA Chemicals | Oxford Development | Pittsburgh Brewing Company | Respironics | rue21 | University of Pittsburgh Medical Center | Vivisimo | Wabtec |
