HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Medical Service Association is proud to celebrate its 85th anniversary of serving its members and the state of Hawaii. For the last 85 years, HMSA has made better health possible for its members and communities, providing access to high quality, affordable health care combined with its continued commitment to fund efforts leading to healthier lives in Hawaii.
“For generations, HMSA has been an invaluable community asset for Hawaii,” said HMSA President and CEO Mark M. Mugiishi, M.D., F.A.C.S. “People here grow up with HMSA. It’s the safety and security of knowing you’re going to be taken care of when you need it most. HMSA is a mainstay in our community and continues to enable healthier lives for the people of Hawaii.”
HMSA was founded in 1938 by social workers to assist those who were unable to afford health care. It all started when Margaret Catton, a nurse, proposed to the Territorial Conference of Social Workers the creation of a nonprofit community-based organization through which members could pool their money to leverage prepaid health care coverage. With that, HMSA was born.
Dr. Mugiishi added, “Very few things last more than eight decades. The commitment of HMSA employees in making healthier lives in Hawaii possible has been the cornerstone of the organization’s continued success. I appreciate their commitment to dedicating their lives to bring better health to Hawaii.”
On June 1, 1938, HMSA opened its doors with 671 members, mostly teachers and social workers. Today, HMSA covers more than 780,000 lives.
Over the past 85 years, HMSA has navigated many changes in the industry, all while continuing to protect the health of its members. For example, HMSA was there for its members through the dark times and uncertainty of World War II. And when the catastrophic tsunami hit Hilo on April 1, 1946 — the same day HMSA opened its Hawaii Island office on the Hilo waterfront — HMSA took care of its members and ensured they were protected with reliable health coverage.
HMSA began contracting with Med-QUEST for Medicare-eligible members in the 1990s. In the 2010s, HMSA implemented the Affordable Care Act and helped employers, members, and providers understand the law’s complex provisions. And most recently, HMSA provided COVID-19-related support to our members, employers, providers, and communities, which totaled more than $175 million in financial relief.
Over the last few years, HMSA has worked diligently with its stakeholders to improve the health of Hawaii. Significant impacts to health outcomes statewide are possible because of their efforts:
- Employees: HMSA’s nearly 1,300 employees are critical to the service offered to members, the contributions to the community, and the success of HMSA, including their selfless commitment during the generational pandemic impacting Hawaii and the world.
- Members: HMSA serves 780,000 members.
- Providers: HMSA’s network in Hawaii contains 7,500 physicians, 28 urgent care providers, three health systems, 23 hospitals, 223 pharmacies, and nine provider organizations. HMSA’s national and global Blues affiliation includes 34 plans and 110 million covered lives, 96% of all hospitals, 95% of all doctors, and 68,000 pharmacies, all in 190 countries worldwide.
- Employers: HMSA’s primary strategic goal for affordability benefited Hawaii’s employers, the purchasers of its product, by keeping premiums relatively flat during the pandemic and lowering administrative spend to 5%, meaning that an industry leading 95 cents of every dollar went directly to health care spend.
- Government: HMSA is the only health plan that has statewide coverage for all government lines of business, which includes federal plans for Medicare, the Federal Employee Program, and HMSA Plan 87, as well as state plans for QUEST Integration (Medicaid) and EUTF.
- Communities: HMSA has a long-standing history of supporting communities upon the pillars of social determinants of health (economic stability, education, neighborhood built environment, social context, and health care access), and stepped up in a big way between 2020-22 when Hawaii needed it most, donating $6 million via the HMSA Foundation and $5 million in corporate giving (for a total community investment of $11 million), earning HMSA the distinction of Hawaii Philanthropic Corporation of the Year in 2022 on National Philanthropy Day.
HMSA is proud to offer quality health plans to individuals, families, and employers, including all government lines of business. In addition, HMSA members receive exceptional local customer service by phone and in-person at HMSA Centers conveniently located in Honolulu, Pearl City, Kahului, and Hilo as well as at the Lihue office.
About HMSA
Caring for the people of Hawaii is our promise and our privilege. Working together with employers, partners, and physicians and other health care providers, we promote well-being; develop reliable, affordable health plans; and support members with clear, thoughtful guidance.
HMSA is the most experienced health plan in the state, covering more than half of Hawaii’s population. As a recognized leader, we embrace our responsibility to strengthen the health and well-being of our community.
Headquartered on Oahu with centers and offices statewide to serve our members, HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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Photos & Video
To access photos and video footage, use the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1u0ugEDcpeMKP8Q2L-nkFoj79QXeDEiJW?usp=sharing. As a courtesy, please credit HMSA.