Every movement has to start somewhere.
Meet Paul Markovich.
My fight began in 1967 when I was 6 months old. My parents found me limp and unconscious in my crib and rushed me to the hospital for emergency surgery. I’m alive because the healthcare system worked for me that day. But if we hadn’t had insurance, if we’d been far from a clinic, if an experienced surgeon hadn’t been there to diagnose and treat me – I’d be dead.
The four-inch scar on my belly is my daily reminder of that.
When I was choosing my career, I heard the phrase, “fight the world’s fight,” and it stuck with me.
As I thought about this phrase, I realized something: We’re all mortal, so we all use the healthcare system. But that system is seriously flawed. It doesn’t treat people the way they deserve to be treated. If I could make the healthcare system better, even in a small way, it would help everyone.
Health care became the “world’s fight” for me.
That’s why I made it my career. First I started my own company to make an impact in the insurance industry. But I soon saw that being a small fish in a big pond wasn’t going to change the world.
So I became a big fish. I joined Blue Shield of California. Over 22 years I worked my way up through the organization until I became CEO. And over that time we made some real strides.
2011
Capped Blue Shield of California’s income to keep coverage affordable
Voluntarily committed to capping net income at no more than 2% of revenue, returning excess funds to members and communities to help keep coverage affordable.
2013
Joined Covered California
As a major participant in Covered California, Blue Shield of California helped drive one of the largest declines in uninsured rates nationwide from 17.2% in 2013 to 8.6% in 2015.
2014
Granted $31.8M to community organizations
Blue Shield of California Foundation awarded 481 grants totaling $31.8 million to organizations that provide affordable, effective care for the underserved, and those working to end domestic violence in California.
2022
Cut the cost of insulin
Lowered the price of high-cost generic insulin to as low as $30/vial or $55 for a box of five pens.
2023
Kicked out the middle man to lower drug prices
Lowered prescription drug prices by eliminating Pharmacy Benefit Managers that were hiking up costs. Offered seamless home delivery and partnered with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus service to streamline access.
2024
Digitized health records and streamlined appointments
Kickstarted the effort to digitize health records and streamline the experience for members and doctors. Automated prior authorization from doctors to avoid delays for patients.
I’m proud of that list. But it’s not enough. People are still suffering. Not getting insurance. Not getting treatment. Being denied claims. Becoming bankrupt.
We need to do more.
We need to enact better laws. Other insurance companies have to comply. We need doctors and hospitals to join us.
We have to remember that we are all human.
We have to take care of ourselves. And we have to take care of each other. There’s no simpler truth. And there is no greater cause.
Every human is worthy of help. Every human is worthy of health. Every human is worthy.
