CareFirst’s strength lies in its products, its people and its presence. The success of CareFirst BlueChoice, the new regional HMO introduced in 2001, continued into 2002 with membership rising to more than 291,000 by year’s end. BlueChoice offers a truly regional network of physicians and hospitals serving Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia – a product that reflects CareFirst’s continuing commitment to a strong Mid-Atlantic presence.

• CareFirst networks gained strength in 2002 with the addition of more than 1,800 primary care physicians in Washington, D.C., Greater Baltimore, and Southern Maryland.
  
  
• Membership in Delaware grew 16 percent in 2002. Since affiliating with CareFirst in 2000, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware membership has increased 49 percent.
  
  
• A new state-of-the-art call center for customer service was opened in Owings Mills, expanding the company’s ability to serve a growing membership. A similar customer and provider service center will open in Delaware in 2003.
  
  
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware introduced the “Personal Comp” product offering individual health care coverage.