We all pack many sources of ID in our wallets, briefcases, purses and backpacks as we start planning for vacation. Everyone has the usual ones — a driver's license, credit cards, or maybe a passport. As you sort through your pieces of ID to decide what to take on your vacation, don't forget your Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan ID card.
Having your Service Benefit Plan ID card with you on vacation may help you when you need it the most whether you are traveling to a different city, state or country.
National Access to Providers
The Service Benefit Plan ID card is recognized everywhere you go.
We have a national network of almost one million Preferred providers, including physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and other health care professionals. If you are traveling to another state, you may want to check out the customer service number for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan for that state provided under the Contact Us feature on our web site. The telephone numbers and address for all the Plans are listed.
In addition, we suggest you look at the online Provider Directory to see if there are any Preferred hospitals and physicians near where you will be staying. Preferred providers submit claims for you to the local Plan and you only have to pay the appropriate coinsurance or copayment amount for covered services.
Worldwide Access
We also have an overseas network of hospitals. These providers recognize the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan ID card and are familiar with our claims and payment process. They will file claims for you without an advance payment for covered services.
The Worldwide Assistance Center can help you locate a hospital in our network near where you are staying. You can also go to the Provider Directory on our web site and click on the overseas provider search tool. Although we don't have a network of professional providers overseas, the Worldwide Assistance Center can also help you locate a physician to assist you. You may have to pay the physicians and file the claim for these services.
If you need assistance overseas, you can call the Worldwide Assistance Center collect at 1.804.673.1678. If you are calling for the US, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, you can call toll-free at 1.800.699.4337. In addition to helping you locate providers, the Center provides emergency evacuation services to the nearest facility equipped to handle your condition, translation services and conversion of foreign medical bills to US currency. There are multi-lingual operators available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to help you. They can even talk to the provider directly if you need help understanding another language.
Being Prepared
Your ID card also has some telephone numbers on the back of the card that can help you when you are away from home.
- Blue Health Connection can answer any medical questions that may arise during your travel and provide assistance in locating a nearby provider or offer self-care to resolve the problem.
- If you lose your medication during your travels, you can call the Retail Pharmacy Program number also on the back of your ID card. The Pharmacy Program can help get you the medication you need and also help you locate a pharmacy near you.
We hope you have a fun and safe vacation wherever you go. We hope that being prepared, having your ID card with you and knowing who to call just in case you need assistance, will give you peace of mind and help you further enjoy your vacation.