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  1. Home
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  3. Insurance
  4. Anthem Blue Cross
Anthem Blue Cross logo
Insurance

Who Owns Anthem Blue Cross?

Anthem Blue Cross is a health insurance brand wholly owned by Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE: ELV), one of the largest health benefits companies in the United States. It operates as a Blue Cross licensee in 14 states, serving approximately 40 million members through commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans. Elevance Health is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and reported approximately $176 billion in operating revenue for 2024.

Parent Company

Elevance Health Inc.

Founded

1946

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

mass marketUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns Anthem Blue Cross?

  • Parent Company: Elevance Health Inc.
  • Ownership Type: Brand division
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: NYSE: ELV
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
Anthem Blue CrossElevance Health Inc.Brand division

History of Anthem Blue Cross

  • Founded: 1946
  • Founders: Blue Cross organizations merger

The roots of Anthem Blue Cross trace to 1946, when Blue Cross plans operating in individual states began consolidating to build larger, more financially stable insurance pools. The Blue Cross concept itself dated to 1929, when Baylor University Hospital in Dallas, Texas, offered prepaid hospital coverage to school teachers. That model spread rapidly, and by the mid-1940s dozens of state-based Blue Cross plans were operating across the country.

The organization that would become Anthem began in Indiana in 1944 as Associated Insurance Companies. It secured a Blue Cross license and began operating as a statewide health plan, primarily serving employer groups. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the Indiana-based entity expanded its coverage products to include major medical and surgical benefits, tracking the rapid growth of employer-sponsored health insurance that followed the 1954 tax code provision making employer health contributions tax-deductible.

Acquisitions accelerated through the 1990s. In 1992, the Indiana plan converted from a nonprofit to a mutual insurance company, which allowed it to raise capital and pursue acquisitions more aggressively. It acquired Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky in 1993, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio in 1995. The company went public in 2001 as Anthem, Inc., listing on the New York Stock Exchange and raising approximately $1 billion in its IPO.

The 2004 merger with WellPoint Health Networks, a California-based Blue Cross licensee, was the defining transaction in the brand's history. Anthem paid approximately $16.4 billion for WellPoint, creating at the time the largest health insurer in the United States by membership. The combined company retained the WellPoint name initially but operated the California health plans under the Anthem Blue Cross brand. In 2012, the company formally renamed itself Anthem, Inc. to align the parent name with its most recognized consumer brand.

Anthem acquired Amerigroup Corporation in 2012 for approximately $4.9 billion, adding a significant Medicaid managed care business and establishing Anthem as one of the largest Medicaid insurers in the country. Further acquisitions followed: Simply Healthcare Holdings in 2015 and Beacon Health Options in 2020. The company also reached an agreement to acquire Cigna Corporation in 2015 for approximately $54 billion, but the Department of Justice successfully blocked the deal in 2017 on antitrust grounds.

In June 2022, Anthem, Inc. rebranded as Elevance Health, signaling an intent to expand beyond traditional insurance into care delivery and pharmacy services. The Anthem Blue Cross brand name was preserved in its existing licensed markets. As of 2025, Anthem Blue Cross of California remains the largest individual health plan in California by enrollment, with approximately 4 million members in that state alone.

About Elevance Health Inc.

What does Elevance Health own?

Elevance Health owns Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans operating in 14 states, the Wellpoint subsidiary brand, and the Carelon health services brand including CarelonRx (pharmacy benefits management) and Carelon Services (behavioural health, care management, and risk-based solutions). The company also offers dental insurance through Anthem Dental Plans and Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental. Elevance was formerly known as Anthem until rebranding in June 2022.

Is Elevance Health publicly traded?

Yes. Elevance Health is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ELV. The company has been publicly traded since 2004, when it IPO'd under the name Anthem with ticker ANTM. The ticker changed to ELV in June 2022 when the company rebranded to Elevance Health. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The company returned $4.1 billion of capital to shareholders in 2025.

Who founded Elevance Health?

Elevance Health was formed through decades of mergers among Blue Cross and Blue Shield organisations, beginning in 1946. The current corporate structure resulted from the 2004 merger of Anthem and WellPoint Health Networks, which brought multiple state Blue Cross Blue Shield plans under a single entity. The company adopted the Anthem name in 2004 and rebranded to Elevance Health in June 2022 under CEO Gail Boudreaux's leadership.

Where is Elevance Health headquartered?

Elevance Health is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The company operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states and serves approximately 45 million medical members across the United States. The company employs approximately 100,000 people. Carelon, the company's health services subsidiary, operates pharmacy benefits management, behavioural health, and care management services.

What is Elevance Health's annual revenue?

Elevance reported $197.6 billion in operating revenue for FY2025, a 12.8% increase from $175.2 billion in FY2024. Premium revenue was $164.6 billion, product revenue was $24.5 billion, and service fees were $8.5 billion. Shareholders' net income was $5.66 billion, with GAAP diluted EPS of $25.21. For FY2026, the company projects total operating revenue to decline in the low single digits, with GAAP diluted EPS of at least $22.30 and adjusted diluted EPS of at least $25.50.

Why is Elevance Health exiting Medicaid markets?

Elevance is exiting Medicaid markets where it cannot achieve sustainable margins due to elevated medical cost trends and state rate updates that have not kept pace with the higher acuity of remaining members after pandemic-era redetermination. The company exited the Washington, D.C. Medicaid market in August 2025 and expects to exit additional markets over 12 to 18 months. Medicaid is expected to operate at a -1.75% operating margin in 2026. CEO Gail Boudreaux stated that "Medicaid participation has to make strategic and financial sense for us within our diversified portfolio."

What is the DOJ lawsuit against Elevance Health about?

In May 2025, the US Department of Justice filed a False Claims Act complaint against Elevance Health, CVS Health (Aetna), and Humana, alleging the insurers paid hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to insurance brokers eHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote from 2016 through at least 2021 in exchange for Medicare Advantage enrolments. The DOJ alleges brokers directed beneficiaries to plans that paid the most in kickbacks regardless of suitability. The case is ongoing, and the claims are allegations only with no determination of liability.

  • Founded: 1946
  • Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: NYSE: ELV
  • Revenue: $197.6 billion (FY2025)
  • Employees: Approximately 100,000

Visit Elevance Health Inc. website

View full company profile for Elevance Health Inc.

Where Is Anthem Blue Cross Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Anthem Blue Cross Categories & Tags

Health InsuranceMedical InsuranceBlue CrossHealth BenefitsInsurance

Awards & Recognition

Elevance Health and Anthem Blue Cross have received recognition from several independent organizations for health plan quality. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Plan Ratings assess health plans annually on clinical quality and member experience. As of the 2024 NCQA ratings, several Anthem Blue Cross commercial plans received ratings of 3.5 out of 5 or higher, with some Medicare Advantage plans rated at 4.0. NCQA ratings are updated annually and the most current scores are available directly from NCQA.

Anthem Blue Cross Recalls & Controversies

2015 Data Breach: In February 2015, Anthem, Inc. disclosed that hackers had accessed a database containing approximately 78.8 million records, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and employment information. The attack affected both current and former members and employees. In 2017, Anthem agreed to pay $115 million to settle a class action lawsuit, the largest settlement ever in a healthcare data breach case at the time. Separately, Anthem paid $16 million in 2018 to settle HIPAA-related claims brought by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

Blocked Cigna Acquisition: In 2015, Anthem announced a $54.2 billion agreement to acquire Cigna Corporation. The Department of Justice filed suit to block the merger in 2016, arguing it would significantly reduce competition in the health insurance market. A federal judge ruled in favor of the DOJ in February 2017, blocking the deal. Cigna then sued Anthem seeking a $1.85 billion termination fee plus $13 billion in damages. The dispute was ultimately settled, with Anthem paying Cigna approximately $1.85 billion.

Mental Health Parity Litigation: Anthem Blue Cross and its affiliated plans have been named in multiple lawsuits alleging violations of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which requires health plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits at levels comparable to medical and surgical benefits. Several cases resulted in settlements or plan benefit adjustments.

California Prior Authorization Scrutiny: In 2023 and 2024, California regulators and legislators focused attention on health insurers' prior authorization practices, including Anthem Blue Cross of California. The California Department of Managed Health Care issued directives requiring health plans to streamline prior authorization for certain services. Anthem Blue Cross faced specific scrutiny over post-acute care denial rates.

Brands Owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Anthem Blue ShieldInsurance

Anthem Blue Shield

Owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Health insurance brand providing medical, pharmacy, behavioral, and dental coverage to individuals and employers, owned by Elevance Health.

health-insurancemedical-insuranceblue-shield
CarelonHealthcare Pharmaceuticals

Carelon

Owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Healthcare services subsidiary of Elevance Health, providing behavioral health administration, medical benefit management, and payment integrity services to health plans and employers.

behavioral-healthhealth-servicesbenefit-management
WellPointHealthcare Pharmaceuticals

WellPoint

Owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Elevance Health's government health plan brand for Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare in states where Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield does not operate, rebranded from Amerigroup in January 2024.

medicaidmedicare-advantagehealth-insurance
View all brands owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Anthem Blue Cross Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +Blue Cross license in 14 states provides exclusive brand rights in those markets
  • +Backed by Elevance Health's approximately $176 billion in annual operating revenue
  • +Access to CarelonRx pharmacy benefits and Carelon behavioral health services integrated with health plans
  • +Extensive provider networks built over decades across western and midwestern states
  • +Medicare Advantage and Medicaid platforms alongside commercial insurance

Considerations

  • -Documented history of data security vulnerabilities following the 2015 breach affecting 78.8 million records
  • -Blocked Cigna acquisition resulted in approximately $1.85 billion in payments and reputational costs
  • -Multiple lawsuits alleging mental health parity violations represent ongoing litigation risk
  • -Medicare Advantage enrollment declines entering 2025 reflect reimbursement pressure from CMS rating changes
  • -Prior authorization practices have attracted regulatory scrutiny in California and other markets

Frequently Asked Questions About Anthem Blue Cross

Sources & Further Reading

  • Anthem Blue Cross Official Website -
  • Elevance Health Investor Relations -
  • SEC EDGAR: Elevance Health (ELV) annual filings -
  • NYSE: ELV stock -
  • Wikidata: Anthem (health insurance) -
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Association -
  • NCQA Health Plan Ratings -
  • Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Insurance Market Data -
  • California Department of Managed Health Care -
  • U.S. Department of Justice: Anthem-Cigna Ruling -

Competitors to Anthem Blue Cross

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

BrandParent CompanyCountryFoundedMarket PositionPrimary MarketGender Target
Anthem Blue ShieldAnthem Blue ShieldSister Brand
Elevance Health
United States
1946
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders
AetnaAetna
Cvs Health
United States
1853
Mass marketNorth americaAll Genders
UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare
Unitedhealth Group
USA
1977
Mass marketUnited statesAll-ages

Learn More About Competitors

Anthem Blue ShieldInsurance

Anthem Blue Shield

Owned by Elevance Health Inc.

Health insurance brand providing medical, pharmacy, behavioral, and dental coverage to individuals and employers, owned by Elevance Health.

health-insurancemedical-insuranceblue-shield
AetnaHealthcare Pharmaceuticals

Aetna

Owned by CVS Health Corporation

American managed care and health insurance company offering medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health plans, operating as a subsidiary of CVS Health Corporation.

health-insurancemanaged-carehealthcare
UnitedHealthcareHealthcare Pharmaceuticals

UnitedHealthcare

Owned by UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group's health insurance brand providing coverage for individuals, employers, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients.

health-insurancemedical-coveragehealthcare

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Anthem Blue Cross competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Independent Alternatives to Anthem Blue Cross

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Elevance Health Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

ProtectiveInsurance

Protective

Owned by Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.

Protective Life Corporation is a life insurance holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, providing life insurance, annuities, and asset protection products to nearly 32 million people across all 50 U.S. states.

life-insuranceannuitiesasset-protection
Publicly Traded

Protective is owned by Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., offering a different ownership alternative.

Elevance Health Inc. Stock Information

Jobs at Elevance Health Inc.

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Last reviewed: June 1, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team