Highmark Inc. is acquiring a Blues insurance plan in the Midwest that promises to boost annual revenue for the Pittsburgh health insurer by $3.1 billion and stretch its reach far outside its East Coast core service area for the first time.

The Downtown-based Highmark Health subsidiary, which includes a health network that operates 14 hospitals and a Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance provider, announced Thursday that it’s acquiring nonprofit regional insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City — known as Blue KC — which serves nearly 1 million members in 32 counties in and around Kansas City in northwest Missouri and two counties in Kansas.

Highmark’s primary service area is Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and part of New York.

Based on Blue Cross Blue Shield Associatio

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