Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, chartered in 1933, was one of the state's first health plans. Its founding mission was to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is the largest health plan in Minnesota, providing health coverage to more than 2.9 million members. Blue Cross offers coverage for individuals and groups of all sizes, as well as for state and federal employees in every county throughout the state. Blue Cross also serves more than 125,000 members enrolled in government-sponsored programs and 184,000 members enrolled in Medicare programs.