Many of the healthcare plans we know today originated right here. As true pioneers, we developed Medicare—and then it was adopted nationwide. When we saw a gap for seniors, we designed Medicare supplement insurance. We’ve continued that legacy of setting higher standards.
Take a look at the many milestones WPS has achieved since 1945.
01
1945
Wisconsin residents facing shortages of jobs, housing, food, and materials. Paying for health care was a struggle.
02
1946
State Medical Society develops the Wisconsin Plan, a low-cost health insurance product, and establishes Wisconsin Physicians Service to market and administer the plan.
03
1956
WPS named Wisconsin contractor for the Department of Defense’s military health plan.
04
1960
WPS develops and markets the Century Plan to customers age 65 and older.
05
1966
WPS creates the Medicare PLUS supplement plan, which is known today as WPS Medicare supplement insurance. WPS begins serving Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers.
06
1970
WPS pioneers a new HMO that is the first of its kind.
07
1981
WPS wins new Department of Defense contract that more than doubles our military health claims volume.
08
1984
WPS creates The EPIC Life Insurance Company, today known as EPIC Specialty Benefits, to sell and administer life and disability insurance for groups.
09
1998
WPS accomplishes the largest Medicare transition in history by taking on the Medicare Part B workload for Michigan and Illinois.
10
2000
WPS begins processing claims for the new TRICARE For Life program.
11
2003
WPS awarded the TRICARE Dual-Eligible Fiscal Intermediary Contract to provide services for more than 1.7 million individuals eligible for both TRICARE and Medicare.
12
2007
WPS awarded Medicare Jurisdiction 5 contract for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
13
2008
WPS starts work on TRICARE For Life federal contract, serving active military, veterans, and their families.
14
2010
WPS named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the first time.
15
2011
WPS awarded Medicare Jurisdiction 8 contract for Indiana and Michigan.
16
2014
WPS starts work on Veterans Affairs Patient-Centered Community Care Program, serving eligible vets in 28 western states, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
17
2017
WPS named subcontractor for TRICARE East Region, covering approximately six million active military, veterans, and their families in 30 states.
18
2020
More than 93% of WPS employees began working remotely as our work and social environments drastically changed due to COVID-19.
19
2021
We celebrated our 75th Anniversary.
20
