Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Plans Job Cuts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota plans to cut about 450 positions over the next four years.

The state's largest insurer said Tuesday the losses will come in information technology.

The company says those job cuts will be made gradually, from 2016 to 2019, to make the reductions transparent and predictable to employees.

Reports say Blue Cross employs about 3,500 people throughout Minnesota, so the cuts represent about 13 percent of the current workforce.

The company says it is working with employees who will be affected.

The nonprofit health care company says the cuts are coming as Blue Cross transitions to more efficient, flexible technology platforms.