Sixty years ago this week, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicaid into law — a cornerstone of American health care that has provided essential coverage to millions of individuals and families. As we celebrate this milestone, we also acknowledge the challenges Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California) faces today, from shifting policies to budget constraints.
At Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect and uplift the communities we serve, no matter how complex the landscape becomes.
Driven by purpose
Blue Shield Promise, formerly known as Care1st Health Plan, has proudly served Medi-Cal beneficiaries since 1994. Today, we support more than 575,000 members across Los Angeles and San Diego counties — two of the most diverse and dynamic regions in the country.
Our roots run deep: Blue Shield of California, founded in 1939, was the first Blue Shield plan in the nation. In 2015, Blue Shield acquired Care1st Health Plan to expand its Medi-Cal offerings, and in 2019, Care1st announced it would operate as Blue Shield Promise — a name that reflects our enduring commitment to community health.
Blue Shield is made up of Californians for Californians. With more than 7,000 employees from 52 of the state’s 58 counties, Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise are united by a shared mission to make quality health care accessible and affordable for our friends, families and neighbors.
Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise have a long history of standing for what’s right. From proposing universal coverage in 2002 to leading the industry in transparency and ethics, we continue to raise the bar. In 2024, we were honored for the 12th time as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere.
Best-in-class performance in a challenging landscape
As Medicaid faces challenges with policy transitions and funding pressures, Blue Shield Promise continues to deliver exceptional results. Earlier this year, we announced we received a 4 out of 5 in the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Medicaid Health Plan Ratings 2024, earning high scores in key areas including disease prevention, overall care and member satisfaction. We also received a Health Equity Accreditation from NCQA in recognition of establishing a strong operational foundation to address health disparities.
In 2024, we exceeded quality performance goals in both Los Angeles and San Diego counties and achieved a best-in-class redetermination retention rate of 83%, helping thousands of members keep or renew their Medi-Cal health coverage.
Blue Shield Promise’s provider network is strong and growing, and our Medi-Cal members are noticing! In 2025, we are seeing a steady rise in positive feedback about access to care and provider communication.
Deep commitment to community: We’re not going anywhere
Blue Shield Promise is actively engaged in the communities we serve, listening to and collaborating with community-based organizations (CBOs), county officials and other key stakeholders. We are also deeply embedded in these communities — our employees contributed 1,685 volunteer hours in 2024.
Blue Shield Promise jointly operates 14 Community Resource Centers (CRCs) in Los Angeles County, in collaboration with L.A. Care Health Plan — bringing no-cost health and social services, health education and fitness classes, mammograms and other screenings directly to neighborhoods in need. Our centers are staffed by individuals with lived experiences who deeply understand and reflect the communities they serve.
We invest in access. In El Cajon, a community in San Diego County, we helped fund a new urgent care and cardiac center that served more than 24,000 patients and reduced avoidable emergency room visits by over 6,300 in its first year.
In 2024, Blue Shield Promise became the first Medi-Cal health plan to offer free access to the GEDWorks program for members in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. This initiative helps members earn their general educational development (GED) diploma at no cost. We see this as a critical first step toward economic empowerment. Since its launch, 244 members have enrolled and 22 have graduated.
From our Thrive Global cookbook, a collaboration with Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, to our strategic partnerships with safety-net providers, we’re building a healthier California — one community at a time.
Advocating for the future
We’re leading efforts to improve care for children and vulnerable populations. Our work on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screenings has made Blue Shield Promise a statewide leader. Through initiatives like the BlueSky youth mental health program and a $1 million grant to the California Department of Education — supporting suicide prevention, mental health first-aid, and training for students and staff — we’re investing in the next generation’s well-being.
A promise that endures
To our members, providers and communities: Thank you! Your trust inspires us every day. Blue Shield Promise is not just a health plan — it’s a promise to show up, invest and lead with integrity. As Medicaid turns 60, we celebrate its legacy and reaffirm our commitment to shaping its future.