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As a Blue Plan member, you have more freedom to
choose the doctors and hospitals that best suit you and your
family. Your membership gives you a world of choices. More than
85 percent of all doctors and hospitals throughout the U.S.
contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. Whether you
need care in urban or rural areas, you're covered. Outside of
the U.S., you have access to doctors and hospitals in more than
200 countries.
Designed to keep you healthy and save
you money.
In many cases, when you travel or live outside
your Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan's service area, you can
take advantage of savings the local Blue Plan has negotiated
with doctors and hospitals in the area. You should not have
to pay any amount above these negotiated rates. Also, you should
not have to complete a claim form or pay up front for your health
care services, except for those out-of-pocket expenses (like
non-covered services, deductible, co-payment, and coinsurance)
that you'd pay anyway.
Take charge of your health, wherever
you are.
Within the U.S.
- Always carry your current Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan
ID card for easy reference and access to service.
- In an emergency, go directly to the nearest hospital.
- To find names and addresses of nearby doctors and hospitals,
visit the BlueCard Doctor and Hospital Finder Web site (www.BCBS.com)
or call BlueCard Access at 1.800.810.BLUE.
- Call your Blue Plan for pre-certification or prior authorization,
if necessary. (Refer to the phone number on your Blue Plan
ID card. It is different from the BlueCard Access number
isted in the previous step.)
- When you arrive at the participating doctor's office or
hospital, simply present your Plan ID card. If you are a PPO
member, the doctor will recognize the Blue Card logo, which
will ensure that you will get the PPO level of benefits.
After you receive care, you should not have to
complete any claim forms. Nor should you have to pay up front
for medical services other than the usual out-of-pocket expenses
(non_covered services, deductible, co-payment, and co-insurance.)
Your Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan will send you a complete
explanation of benefits.
Around the world
Like your passport, you should always carry your
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan ID card when you travel or live
outside the U.S. The BlueCard Worldwide program provides medical
assistance services and access to doctors, hospitals, and other
health care professional around the world. When outside the
U.S., follow the same simple process as in the U.S., with the
following exceptions:
- In most cases, you should not need to pay up front for inpatient
care at BlueCard Worldwide hospitals. You are responsible
for the usual out-of-pocket expenses (non-covered services,
deductible, co-payment, and co-insurance). The hospital should
submit your claim.
- You pay the doctor or hospital for inpatient care at non-BlueCard
Worldwide hospitals, outpatient hospital care, and other medical
services. Then, complete and international claim form and
send it to the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center. The claim
form is available from your Blue Cross and /Blue Shield Plan
or on-line at www.BCBS.com.
You can take advantage of these added features
when outside the U.S.:
- You can call 1.800.810.BLUE or collect at 1.804.673.1177,
24 hours a day, seven days a week for information on doctors,
hospitals, and other health care professionals or to receive
medical assistance services around the world.
- A medical assistance coordinator, in conjunction with a
medical professional, will make an appointment with a doctor
or arrange hospitalization, if necessary.
Coverage may vary for each Blue Cross and/or
Blue Shield Plan, so be sure to check with your Plan before
leaving the U.S.
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