Cambia Health Solutions (Cambia) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) announced a strategic affiliation, making BCBSND the newest single-state Blue plan to affiliate with Cambia. The affiliation will unify operations and enable the organizations to share best practices for local plan innovation and services, deliver personalized member experiences, and leverage Cambia’s robust technology infrastructure, the announcement stated. Subject to regulatory approval in North Dakota, the strategic affiliation is expected to close in 2026.
Established in 1995 by four Blue Cross Blue Shield licensees, Cambia is a nonprofit health solutions company that provides management and shared services for local Blue plans across the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West. Cambia and BCBSND share a legacy of practical innovation and community commitment, the announcement stated. Cambia’s mission is to transform health care to work better for real people and be economically sustainable. It is a founding partner and investor in Echo Health Ventures, which seeks to invest in and grow health care companies. The health solutions company brings experience offering high-quality, cost-effective health care through personalized member tools that make it easier for people to navigate their care. BCBSND contributes deep expertise and market leadership in rural health, Medicare and Medicaid solutions, and provider organization collaboration.
Members retain their current coverage and will continue to use their BCBSND insurance card just as they do today, according to the announcement. BCBSND will continue to offer Medicare Advantage through NextBlue of North Dakota. BCBSND will maintain its local plan name, board of directors, and philanthropic foundation. It will also continue its mutual status and will remain governed by voting policyholders. All BCBSND’s reserve funds and foundation resources remain in North Dakota. Cambia will also maintain its foundation. Local health plans will operate in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington as they do now.
BCBSND was founded in 1940 with the mission to provide members with affordable access to health care across the state. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), BCBSND is committed to transforming care and health across the state to improve outcomes, lower cost trends, and make it easier to shop for, buy, and use health care coverage. Members have access to local service and to a comprehensive network of health care provider organizations across the state, the nation, and more than 190 countries.
Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to transforming health care, the announcement stated. The organization works to make the health care system more economically sustainable and efficient for people and their families. The company reaches millions of Americans nationwide, including more than 3.6 million people served by its regional health plans.
This was reported by Cambia Health Solutions on August 21, 2025 (accessed October 13, 2025).
Contact information: Susan Gage, Vice President, Strategic Communications, Cambia Health Solutions, 200 SW Market Street, Portland, OR 97201; Email: susan.gage@cambiahealth.com; Website: https://cambiahealth.com/
January 2026 00US26EUA0002