HCSC, a nonprofit Blue Cross and Blue Shield carrier, announced plans last month to pay $3.3 billion for Cigna’s Medicare operations. The acquisition, slated to close in early 2025, would quadruple HCSC’s Medicare Advantage membership to about 800,000. Although HCSC is stronger in employer-sponsored health benefits and other areas, it has sold Medicare Advantage plans since 2013. Moreover, the company expanded its geographic presence over the past few years, including entering 100 new counties for the 2024 plan year.