Blue Shield Of California Employer Reviews

Good work environment. Most of the time it is fast paced. The managers and team leads are always around to help with any issue.

Every day is a new challenge, which keeps things interesting.
Health Care laws and regulations change by the day, it keeps your mind learning.
Management really cares about its employees and members.
Co-workers all work together to ensure claims are processed accurately.
Flexbile work schedules and constant support of the BSC Leadership Team.
The "hardist – more... part" of this job is with all the Health Care Reform and Laws changing. It takes a lot of memorization to constantly keep up with all the changes.. and then changes to the "changes"... if you know what I mean. – less

I worked in a call center answering questions on medical claims. I gave the company a low review because they put me through 6 weeks of training and then I was laid off shortly after I was placed in the call center. I don't understand training people and spending that money just to let them go. It was to my advantage, a ton of knowledge at $12 per hour.

Management needs to be objective. Workload is resonable. Great compensation

My job was to answer benefit questions for members. The only good part was assisting in providing answers for confused members. The most difficult part was following the scripting they follow so strictly, even more concerned about the script than the accuracy of the information given. Another challenge was to get assistance from management, their answer – more... was always "look it up". Referring to an outdated compilation of referance materials in no particular order-while a member was put on hold mind you. As I asked a member of upper management a simple question about the company, I was repremanded the following day on keeping within my management chain of contact! So much for open door! All in all a very frustrating chapter in my career, would not recommend, there is a very good reason they are always hiring. Beware. – less

After spending more than 13 years with this company with extensive medical training and knowledge I found that some supervisors were willing to use my skills and were willing to help me to advance and I was even compensated very well for a good couple of years as my supervisors at the time felt I worked hard and deserved it. Later when upper management – more... kept changing out our supervisors before a year could finish our teams moral faded fast. No more smiles, talking, or even laughing. As a telecommuter working in the office at that time once a month, the change was so apparent. Everyone spoke in whispers and looked over shoulders to make sure they were not being seen. I had never seen this before in our department. It was like walking into a funeral. The life was gone. And if you we're not in with the "popular" in office workers as a telecommuter I was not allowed to speak at all. I know this because of the co- supervisor of the Triage team let me know in front of the entire team from in front of her cubicle one day as I was asking a work related question. I of course was in shock and embarrassed. I could tell some other co workers were also and some even sent me emails saying how sorry they were on how I was treated. This type of treatment did not stop. I reported it, I asked for help. My reporting of the harassment I know I was receiving did not remain confidential. Others found out, including the person and the people I reported. I had asked to be transferred to another department, my supervisor stated that she knew this would get better as she did not want to lose me from this team. I stayed for as long as I could emotionally and mentally. I did like my job, but what management had done to me over the past year was wrong. I was not treated with respect, dignity or given anything this company had promised over the last 13 + years. After seeking advice from my long term family physician, I made the decision to resign as I deserved to be treated much better and I deserved to be treated as an equal human being, not like someone's dog or even less. We as all human beings deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not just a other ID number on a paycheck. This was a hard decision to make, my dignity, emotional and mental health that I was letting this person drag me down and make me terrified to go into the office or stand up for myself and take the high road. I chose the high road and I tell the truth when I am looking for work. It feels wonderful and I feel totally released. To add being forced to change my personal healthcare providers after 15 years to a group that has no record of any form of excellent care and less physicians to choose from was also another way of those in SF to show force and the power of what they are truly capable of. This company is no longer for the people or it's employee's. The company is for those executives who are running it and how much they can line their pockets. Beware employees, they will not help you line your savings accounts because they will no longer be giving you the 4-5% raises. Do not trust this company. Especially when they hire from the outside instead of promoting from the inside. They will keep you where you are unless you force the change for YOU. – less

i loved the hours. My work day was from 7:30-4:00PM, i had awesome co-workers, we were always helping each other out. i would say the only bad thing was that unfortunately management was a little unorganized.

good place to work.
easy going
8-5 work
good environment
Nothing more

Management is incompetent. Leaders have no values or morals. It's a highly political environment--you're either in or not. They say the culture is changing when in fact it is not. It's only something they put on paper. Stay clear of this company, unless you want to be treated like dirt, be under-recognized, not valued, lied to, and not trusted. Don't – more... let all the smiles during the interview process fool you. I'd rather flip burgers. – less

Blue Shield has allowed me to use the skills I already had as well as gain many other skills.

I worked independantly in the field in the Bay Area with the managers located in ElDorado Hills.

I commuted to tertiary hospitals where I reviewed cases according to Interqual critieria for stay and level of care and met with case managers and physicaians and families for the purpose of discharge planning. Many patients were airlifted and far from – more... home.

I co-ordinated transfers back to patients local areas for continued care when stable and obtained authorizations for ongoing care.

The hardest part of the job was commute time, if a difficult commute, documentation sometimes was not finished until late evening.

I enjoyed all other aspects, developing professional relationships at learning facilities, enhancing my knowledge both in the workplace and through my colleages at teleconferences were amoung the biggest benefits.

The company also supported ongoing education and sponsored team meetings at nice locations. – less

BSC is re-orging and laying people off left and right, to reduce admin. Basically, it's getting worse and worse at Blue Shield of CA. The poor hiring decisions and promotions made during this re-org are terrifying. We're facing the biggest changes ever to our industry (healthcare reform) and it's essentially "amateur hour" all over the place in this – more... company. They didn't plan, or staff-up appropriately for the healthcare reform work.

The Bad:
They don't promote people, even when it's well deserved.
Upper management is woefully disconnected.
They hire incompetent people into roles because they are unsuccessful at recruiting.
The communication is some of the worst I've ever seen in my career.
Silos are everywhere (which ties into the above comment).
Very old school, conservative culture.
They do not encourage free thinking or empower employees to make decisions.
They do not "manage out" bad employees, but rather saddle the good employees with them.
There are no perks. NONE! You have to fight for a $2 pen.
In general, raises for a "good" review are below inflation, so unless you're promoted (which they never do), you don't want to stay too long at BSC or your salary will lag.
BSC is very frenetic.
No matter what job you take there, you'll end up being in crisis mode.

Additional Badness:
Great Place to Work scores are still abysmal (2nd yr).
There is a retaliatory culture at BSC - don't be direct or ask good questions. You will only be labeled negatively for doing so. It doesn't matter if your question is for the betterment of the company, it only matters if your question may make some insecure, middle manager "look bad."

They changed the review policy this year to avoid "forced ranking," yet SVPs, VPs, Sr. Directors and Directors are circulating emails directing you not to give your employees ratings higher than "meets expectations" and not to use all of the money you are budgeted for increases.

Advice to Senior Management – Follow your policies consistently! Don't circulate an email about "no more forced rankings" under the guise of an improved culture, while concurrently, half of your leaders are dictating review rankings to their staff. Why even bother? I'll forward you my staff's self assessments and you can review them.

If you're going to re-org, please don't follow the, "this is going to take a year to finish" process.

Don't staff all of your leadership roles with people who only have experience in one segment of the business, particularly when the other segments are the ones changing under the approaching healthcare reform marketplace. This was no re-org - this was a hostile takeover. – less

Good place to work, in downtown SF. Variety of culture initiatives in place.

Prepare the copy machines for the day and print letters sent to the printers.

Date stamp received faxes for the day.

Sort and deliver the mail throughout the claims department.

Pick up claims and assign numbers and activate claims to code.

Code claims.

Prepare outgoing mail for pick up for the afternoon.

Available through email to processors for – more... claims information and supplies.

I have learned how to activate and code medical claims.

Management is supportive of questions and concerns. Giving advise and or solutions.

The hardest part of the job is the lack opportunities to grow in my career.

I enjoy meeting new people. – less

good company to work for in general. people there are great. they are still working on developing a better culture. upper management needs "say what they mean and mean what they say". Lacks opportunities for advancement depending on what position you are in.

Learned to coordinate with different cultures and expertise throughout the company.

Good place to work at, the people are great, company provided an opportunity to learn and grow.

With all of the outsourcing going on, all of us are having a hard time trying to keep positive about our jobs. The benefits are great, and you are treated with respect.

a typical day was very busy and i like going out to companies enrolling employees for insurance

The co-workers are great. There is a very good environment. Learned many new tools.