If available, Anthem eager to grab Blue Cross territory. (Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio)

Crain's Cleveland Business, November, 1996 by Santiago, Raquel

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Ohio's potential loss of the cross and shield trade emblems plays into the plans of competitor Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to expand more aggressively into Northeast Ohio. If Anthem ends up assuming Blue Cross of Ohio's service territory, it doesn't expect to gain all its rival's contracts.

However, Anthem executives said the turf takeover significantly would boost its presence in Ohio, particularly Greater Cleveland. "It would be ridiculous to say we are not interested (in the Blue Cross service area) if the national association's board of directors were to disconnect" Blue Cross of Ohio, said Dwane R. Houser, Anthem's chairman. "We certainly would put our best foot forward to encourage (the association) to give us (the Blue...

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