Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is a leading health insurance company that provides coverage to customers in New York and nationwide. It serves 5 million members and nearly 40,000 employer accounts. Its subsidiaries, Empire HealthChoice HMO and Empire HealthChoice Assurance, serve residents and businesses in 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York. Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield is a subsidiary of publicly traded WellChoice. In 2005, the company agreed to merge with WellPoint, the largest health insurer in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, it is the parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 13 states. Founded in 1935, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield has more than eight regional offices in New York state, located in New York, Albany, Syracuse, Middletown, Yorktown Heights, Poughkeepsie, Melville and Bohemia.