Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) is a nonprofit health insurer in the state of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. HMSA was founded in 1938, is an independent licensee of the

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBS, BCBSA) is a federation, or supraorganization, of, in 2022, 34 independent and locally operated BCBSA companies that provide health insurance in the United States to more than 106 million people. It was ...

, and is the largest insurer in the state of Hawaii serving more than 700,000 people.

Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA)

The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) is a member of the

, an association of independent medical insurance providers. A nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in 1938, HMSA covers more than half of the state’s population. HMSA’s headquarters are located at the HMSA Center, 818 Keeaumoku Street, in

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the isla ...

, .

History

In 1935, a group of Hawaii social workers started a nonprofit association governed by a community board of directors. In June 1938, HMSA established its headquarters in Honolulu with 671 members. In 1946, HMSA joined the Blue Shield Association. During the 1950s, HMSA introduced a Major Medical Plan to help protect against the cost of catastrophic illness. In the 1960s, HMSA developed health plans for senior citizens, college students, and the unemployed. Drug, dental and vision plans, and preventive benefits, were introduced. In 1972, HMSA introduced the Community Health Program, its first

Health maintenance organization In the United States, a health maintenance organization (HMO) is a medical insurance group that provides health services for a fixed annual fee. It is an organization that provides or arranges managed care for health insurance, self-funded heal ...

(HMO). The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974 required nearly all employers to provide health insurance to full-time employees. In 1980, Health Plan Hawaii was certified as a federally qualified HMO. In 1990, HMSA joined the Blue Cross Association and became the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association plan of Hawaii. In 1994, HMSA began contracting with Hawaii QUEST, a state program with medical, dental and behavioral health benefits for

Medicaid Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and per ...

or State Health Insurance Program recipients. In 1999, the

National Committee for Quality Assurance The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States that works to improve health care quality through the administration of evidence-based standards, measures, programs, and ...

(NCQA) awarded Health Plan Hawaii with the highest HMO accreditation possible.

Litigation

In the 2000s, HMSA endured a round of provider led litigation, including the latest charges of anti-competitive practices, filed in U.S. District Court in April 2013. This litigation is still ongoing.

Plans and programs

HMSA offers a variety of health plans, including Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans. HMSA offers plans through employers and individual plans for those not eligible through employer groups. Some health plans may include supplemental benefit coverage for prescription drugs and dental, vision, and complementary care (

acupuncture Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body. Acupuncture is a pseudoscience; the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientif ...

chiropractic Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially of the spine. It has esoteric origins and is based on several pseudosci ...

care and massage therapy). HMSA’s health and wellness programs help members stay healthy and avoid costly chronic diseases.

HMSA365

HMSA365 is a program for HMSA members to receive discounts on selected health and wellness services in Hawaii. Launched in 2009, HMSA365 was created in conjunction with the national Blue365, a health and wellness discount program of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The name was chosen because health plan members can receive the discounts 365 days of the year to help them stay healthy and fit. Members show their HMSA card to participating businesses to receive the discounts.

HMSA Teen Video Awards

The HMSA Teen Video Awards Contest is open to middle school and high school students throughout the state.

Public Service Announcement A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest disseminated by the media without charge to raise public awareness and change behavior. In the UK, they are generally called a public information film (PIF); in Hong Kong, ...

s of 27 seconds receive cash awards and are aired on television. The contest has been held since 2004.

Affiliates

The nonprofit HMSA Foundation extends HMSA’s commitment to providing access to cost-effective health care services; health promotion, education and research; and the promotion of social welfare.

Premiums

HMSA premiums have gradually increased in line with the rest of the nation. Despite Hawaii's increased

health care costs Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiz ...

compared to the rest of the nation, HMSA premiums have historically been and continue to be among the lowest in the nation

References

External links

* {{Authority control Financial services companies established in 1938 Companies based in Honolulu Medical and health organizations based in Hawaii Health maintenance organizations Organizations established in 1938 1938 establishments in Hawaii Members of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association