More than 100 million Americans have medical insurance via Blue Cross. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is a non-profit organization that provides medical insurance coverage under the Blue Shield name in the United States. In 1982, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations merged to become one organization. Today, BCBSA is again divided into two separate companies because of regulatory restrictions on merging insurance companies from different states together. In 2017, Blue Cross paid $5 billion in claims. That's 7 cents out of every dollar spent on health care. Blue Cross has five main types of coverage: Hospital Insurance (HI), Medical Insurance (MI), Dental Insurance (DI), Vision Insurance (VI), and Essential Health Benefits (EHB). Medical insurance covers you when you go to a doctor or hospital for treatment. It can pay for care that isn't otherwise covered by other policies, such as prescription drugs or outpatient services. Hospital insurance pays for your stay at a hospital or nursing home if you are treated for injuries caused by accidents or illness. It also covers the cost of some diagnostic tests performed after an accident on the job. A few policies may also cover expenses if you need to spend time in a rehabilitation facility. Dental insurance covers the cost of dental treatments. Some policies may also cover preventive measures such as cleanings and exams.