Some Blues plans like Blue Cross of California, amid financial problems, became for-profit and took to the public markets in the 1990s, creating today what is known as Wellpoint (WLP), which operates plans under the Blues or Anthem Blue Cross brands in more than a dozen states.

FORBES: Obamacare May Push Blue Cross Health Plans To Merge

They just had -- some of you saw the news -- for people who don't have insurance through a big employer, the individual market, in California one of the biggest insurance providers, Anthem Blue Cross, just announced that they were going to raise rates on these folks by up to 39 percent -- up to 39 percent.

WHITEHOUSE: Help for Homeowners in the Hardest Hit States