Make the Most of Coverage

Share these tips with your employees to help them make the most of their coverage:

  • Select a primary care physician (if your plan requires it)
    A primary care physician is a family practice physician or general internal medicine physician. For children, pediatricians may act as the primary care physician. The relationship between you and your primary care physician is very important and personal. That's why BlueChoice HealthPlan has developed a large list of doctors from which you may choose. If you have our Primary Choice plan or our BlueChoice® Point of Service plan, your primary care physician will become your "health care manager" within our network, providing or arranging for all necessary care. We don't require our BlueChoice Advantage Plus members to select or get referrals from a primary care physician. But we strongly recommend all members maintain a strong and active relationship with a primary care physician.
  • Maintain a relationship with a primary care physician and allow that physician to coordinate your medical care
    Always seek care from your primary care physician first, unless it's an emergency. While we encourage you to maintain a long relationship with your doctor, we realize it sometimes may be necessary to make a change. Need to find an in-network provider?
  • Phone ahead for appointments and cancel at least 24 hours in advance
    This helps you receive your medical care on a more timely basis. When you call first, your doctor's staff will arrange for the most appropriate care — either an appointment or advice for an ailment. If you must cancel any appointments, please let your doctor's office know as soon as possible. Some physicians may charge for missed appointments and BlueChoice does not cover those charges.
  • Always bring your BlueChoice ID card with you
    Whenever you seek medical care, be sure to identify yourself as a BlueChoice HealthPlan member. When you arrive for your appointment, present your BlueChoice HealthPlan ID card to the office staff.
  • Be familiar with what to do after hours if you need care
    Your primary care physician has an agreement with us to provide 24-hour call coverage. This means no matter when you call your primary care physician, someone will answer the phone and advise you of the proper action to take based on your condition. If an emergency arises, try to phone your primary care physician first. If he or she is unavailable, you can go directly to the nearest Doctor's Care or other urgent care provider. But if your condition is life- or limb-threatening, you should go directly to the nearest emergency room. As soon as possible, let your primary care physician know about any emergency care you have received.
  • Help yourself stay healthy
    Take advantage of our Great Expectations for health health management programs. We can help you stop smoking, lose weight, control your diabetes or decrease your risk for heart disease. You'll learn to breathe easier with our asthma management program. Expectant moms count on our maternity program to provide information and support, which can help them deliver healthy babies. We even have a special program for women only. For more information, call our Health Management department at 800-327-3183, ext. 25541.
  • Practice prevention
    Nothing beats planning ahead when it comes to your health. Regular exams are one of our most attractive benefits, so make sure you practice preventive care. Here are guidelines for adults and children/adolescents seeking preventive services.
  • Know how to get a referral (if your plan requires it)
    Your primary care physician has access to the skills and support of specialists and other health professionals who are part of our network. Should you need the care of these professionals, your primary care physician will arrange for that care. A referral is a detailed record of the care your primary care physician orders on your behalf. It is very specific, stating the problem and number of visits or treatments. You must have an authorization before seeing any specialist (other than a gynecologist for routine care), even if you already had seen that specialist before joining BlueChoice HealthPlan.
     
    • Note: If you have our BlueChoice Advantage Plus coverage or if you have our BlueChoice Point of Service plan and wish to use non-network physicians, you do not need a referral from a primary care physician before seeking medical care. Please note that under our BlueChoice Point of Service program, visits to a network participating specialist without referral from a primary care physician is covered at the lower, out-of-network benefit level.
  • Make the most of your appointment
    Be prepared to ask your doctor questions and provide as much background about your health as you possibly can. On your first visit, bring all the medicines you currently take. Your doctor will need this information to assess your medical condition and monitor possible drug interactions.
  • Help us keep your records up to date
    If there are any changes in your family's status, address or phone number, please let us know through your employer's personnel office.
  • Know the best ways to get information about your benefits

    We are always happy to answer your questions about benefits or anything else. You have a lot of information at your fingertips.

    1. Send us an email through our secure My Health Toolkit. If you are using it for the first time, you will need to create a profile – it just takes a few minutes.

    2. Read your Schedule of Benefits. These are sent to you when you first become a member, and whenever your benefits change. You can also view your benefits in My Health Toolkit.

    3. View your Member Guide. You can also call us at the number on the back of your ID card to request we mail you a copy of your Schedule of Benefits or Member Guide.

  • Save money on lab tests
    Depending upon your benefit plan, lab tests are usually covered in full as part of your coverage with BlueChoice. There are some guidelines to follow, however, and if you are being billed, it may be one of these situations:
     
    • The test is considered investigational:
      There are more and more new tests being developed, but these are not all proven yet to be valid and medically necessary. If your doctor is recommending a test that is new or if there is any question, ask your doctor to check with us and make sure it is a covered test.
    • The test was processed by a lab that’s not in the BlueChoice network:
      Lab tests, like many other services, have to be processed by a network laboratory to be covered. LabCorp is the biggest of these, but there are others, too. Ask your doctor to make sure the test is being performed at a lab that participates in the BlueChoice network. Laboratory tests performed in your doctor’s office or hospital are usually covered. There is more of a risk when your test is being sent out to another lab for processing.