Many BlueCrosses (they're not one company, they're all independent) are _non-for-profits_ which is totally different from a _non-profit_ or 501(c)(3). They can

Many BlueCrosses (they're not one company, they're all independent) are _non-for-profits_ which is totally different from a _non-profit_ or 501(c)(3). They can still lobby as a non-for-profit and the whole model is pretty much weird legal bullshit anyway. Also another reason you couldn't start a big non-profit is because insurance companies are limited in reach by state/region. Sadly, that's one of the few things keeping them in check. If that regulation was removed, you'd see all the Blues and other companies start to merge into only two to three mega companies, similar to cell phone providers.