Blue Shield of California Foundation

 

Key Facts

Key facts that define and guide the work of Blue Shield of California Foundation.

Blue Shield of California Foundation

As one of the largest healthcare foundations in the state, Blue Shield of California Foundation acts as a bridge between the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Each year, Blue Shield of California Foundation:

  • Donates nearly $30 million
  • Provides vital support to over 200 Community Clinics
  • Funds over 100 domestic violence shelters

Health Care and Coverage Program

Blue Shield of California Foundation believes every California resident should have access to quality health care. We are committed to providing care for those most in need, the poor, the uninsured, children and families living on tight budgets. The following facts guide the work of our Health Care and Coverage Program:

  • One in five Californians has no health insurance1
  • 6.7 million Californians are uninsured2
  • More than 80 percent of uninsured Californians are workers and their family members3
  • Since 2001, premium costs for employer-sponsored family health coverage have risen 78%4
  • Almost 70% of California’s uninsured children are part of a family where the head of household works full-time, year-round5

Blue Shield Against Violence

Blue Shield of California Foundation is the largest private funder of domestic violence programs in California. While we are proud of our long-standing commitment, we are well aware of how much more support is needed to overcome this tragically common problem. Key facts that guide our Domestic Violence Program work follow.

  • One in four women is a victim of domestic violence6
  • 50% of men who frequently assault their wives also frequently abuse children7
  • One in five adolescent girls reports being physically or sexually hurt by a dating partner.8

 
1 Brown, E. Richard; Cummings, Janet; Lavarreda, Shana Alex; Ponce, Ninez; Rice, Thomas; and Yoon, Jean:  The State of Health Insurance in California: Findings from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Brief, July 2007   
2 Statehealfacts.org, California: Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population, states (2005-2006), U.S. (2006), The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation3 The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust, Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey
3 Brown, E. Richard; Cummings, Janet; Lavarreda, Shana Alex; Ponce, Ninez; Rice, Thomas; and Yoon, Jean:  The State of Health Insurance in California: Findings from the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research Brief, July 2007 
4 The Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust, Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the March Current Population Survey, 2007 Supplement 
5 Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the March Current Population Survey, 2007 Supplement 
6 The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Women's Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women's Health, May 1999
7 Strauss, Murray A., Gelles, Richard J., and Smith, Christine. 1990. Physical Violence in American Families; Risk Factors and Adaptations to Violence in 8,145 Families. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers
8Jay G. Silverman, PhD; Anita Raj, PhD