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Board of Directors

As a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Board of Directors, you can help shape tomorrow's health care system. These are critical times for health care. Can costs be restrained? Can access to high-quality health care be assured for all? These are some of the questions the BCBSM Board of Directors will help answer. By making policy for the state's largest provider of health care coverage, our 35 directors affect the quality, cost and availability of health care for our 4.7 million members.

Who is eligible to apply for a board seat?
At this time, only small-group and nongroup applications are being accepted. A small-group subscriber is a person who is enrolled through a group with fewer than 150 subscribers. If you're not sure of your group size, please check with your employer, association or chamber. A nongroup subscriber is a person who is enrolled as an individual subscriber or has group conversion or Medicare Supplemental coverage. An applicant must be a BCBSM subscriber or member to apply.
What is the term of office?
The term of office is two years. Approximately one-half of the board seats expire in April each year.
How are directors appointed?
The board is comprised of 35 members, six of whom are small-group and nongroup subscribers. The board also includes representatives of large and medium-group customers, organized labor, providers of health care, along with public members appointed by Michigan's governor. Three separate, independent director selection councils representing various subscriber groups identify and appoint people who are qualified and willing to serve as directors, either to fill new terms or vacancies as they occur. For the purposes of this solicitation, two of the councils are involved. Council II, the Small-Group Director Selection Council, appoints small-group subscriber board members. Council III, the Nongroup Director Selection Council, appoints nongroup subscriber board members.
What are the duties and qualifications of a board member?
A director occupies a position of confidence and trust and has the responsibility for the well-being of BCBSM and the related interests of subscribers as a whole. Duties of directors are to develop corporate policy, assure the company's financial stability and oversee management's execution of policy and compliance with the law. A subscriber director must maintain small-group or nongroup subscriber status as appropriate during his or her tenure on the board.
How often does the board meet and where?
The board meets approximately eight times a year, usually at the BCBSM Service Center in Detroit. Meetings generally begin at 3 p.m. and end at 6 p.m. In addition, board members are assigned to various committees that each meet six to eight times a year. Directors must provide their own transportation.
Is there remuneration for serving?
Directors are compensated for each board and committee meeting attended. In addition, board members receive an annual retainer and are reimbursed for any travel and meeting-related expenses. Liability insurance is maintained for all directors by the corporation.
What is the law?
BCBSM is governed as a health care corporation under Public Act 350 of 1980, a copy of which is available at your local library. Other governing documents are the articles of incorporation, the bylaws and existing board policies.