Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, an independent, locally operated licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, has been providing health care coverage exclusively to Montanans for almost 70 years.

In 1929, a prototype prepaid hospital plan was created in Dallas, Texas to help teachers pay for hospital costs. For a monthly contribution of $0.50 to the Baylor University Hospital, the teachers were guaranteed of up to 21 days of paid hospital care. In 1934, the organization selected a blue cross as its logo. As the plan continued to grow, the blue cross began to show up in other parts of the country, and in 1946, the Blue Cross Commission was formed as the early national organization of Blue Cross Plans.

In the early 1900's, a health coverage plan was growing out of lumber and mining camps in the Pacific Northwest. Employers wanted to provide medical care for their workers, so they arranged to pay local physicians a monthly fee for the services the employees used. These pioneer programs provided the basis for what would become the modern Blue Shield Plans. The blue shield logo was inspired by the U.S. Army Medical Corps insignia and the serpent associated with Greek mythology. This image along with the blue shield would come to represent the Blue Shield Plans, the first of which was formed in 1947, as Associated Medical Care Plans.

Our vision at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is to be the health plan of choice for Montanans. For almost 70 years, we have been providing health care coverage exclusively in Montana for Montanans.

As Montana’s largest and oldest health insurance company, our name is linked with exceptional service and cost-effective, innovative products.

For more than six decades, we have provided our customers with the security of knowing they have health care when they need it. Today, as a not-for-profit health plan, we continue to provide that security, and our mission is to help people lead healthier lives.

401(k)
This tax-deferred savings program is available to employees upon hire. Employees may contribute 1 to 75 percent of pay and are vested on the date of enrollment. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana matches 100% of the first 3% of pay you contribute and 50% of the next 2% of your pre-tax contribution.

Annual Retirement Contribution
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana employees who were hired, or rehired, on or after January 1, 2005, and who have 1,000 hours of service in a calendar year are eligible to receive an Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC), in addition to the basic benefits available through the tax-Favored Savings program.
Employees are vested in the ARC after three years (effective January 1, 2008) of service.

Flexible Spending Accounts
This plan allows payment of health plan premiums, unreimbursed medical expenses, and dependent-care expenses with pre-tax dollars through payroll deductions. Participating employees choose the amount they wish to contribute to each flexible spending account.

Health Coverage
Employees are covered under this program on the first day of employment.

Life Insurance
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana provides a group term life policy for each employee at no cost to the employee. Employees are eligible for coverage on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additional employee paid life insurance options are also available.

Long-Term Care
This benefit is optional and paid by the employee.

Earned Personal Time (EPT)
New employees receive 17 days (136 hours) per year of earned personal time based on a bi-weekly accrual. This increases with additional years of service.

Employee Assistance
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana offers one to four confidential counseling sessions for employees and their families at no cost.

Long-Term Disability
Employees are covered by the program after one year of service and may qualify after being disabled for five calendar months.

Short-Term Disability (STD)
Short-Term Disability is used when an employee is unable to work due to his/her illness. A full-time employee accrues four hours of STD every pay period.

Tuition Reimbursement Full-time employees may request tuition reimbursement after completing one year of service. Accredited courses are pre-approved and reimbursement is at 80 percent up to a maximum of $3,500 per calendar year. Courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
560 N. Park Avenue
PO Box 4309
Helena, MT 59604-4309
1.800.447.7828
Email: webdesk@bcbsmt.com