Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

 

October 18, 2013

Blue Choice SelectSM Is Changing on Jan. 1, 2014

We want to inform you that effective Jan. 1, 2014, Blue Choice Select will have a new network name, Blue Choice PPOSM. The provider network will be smaller. For members, this means that the provider they are currently seeing may no longer be considered in network. The primary reason why the Blue Choice Select network was revamped was so Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) will have a more competitive product.

If Blue Choice PPO is being offered to your employees as part of their new 2014 plan, it is important to encourage them to check the Blue Choice PPO network and confirm that their provider(s) will be in the network. If a provider is not part of the network, then out-of-network charges will apply starting on Jan. 1, 2014. This would impact members’ out-of-pocket costs once coinsurance and copayments are applied. With the new Blue Choice PPO offering in 2014, members seeing an out-of-network provider will be responsible for the difference between our payment and billed charges, and may be balance billed by the provider.  For grandfathered groups, there will be no changes to the eligible charges for out-of-network services.

Currently, the Provider Finder® tool on bcbsil.com reflects the providers participating in the new Blue Choice PPO network effective Jan. 1, 2014. Members should access this tool to review the list of network providers who are participating in the new Blue Choice PPO network.

  • If their current provider does not appear on the list, members will need to choose another provider for future in-network care on the plan.
     
  • If their current provider is on the list, members can continue to seek care as they normally would.
     
  • A special enrollment period may be available for existing group Blue Choice Select members who are interested in changing to any plan the employer may offer. In order to take advantage of this special enrollment period, the employee must enroll by Dec. 15 for a Jan. 1, 2014, effective date. This change will not change the employer group’s renewal date.
     
  • If your company currently offers only a Blue Choice Select plan, then you may choose to purchase an additional plan to meet your employees’ needs. Account-level required documents must also be submitted no later than Dec. 15 for a Jan. 1, 2014, effective date. This change will not change your renewal date. 

Existing group accounts with 2-150 employees who have Blue Choice Select will be notified directly next week of this change. Affected members will also be notified of this change shortly after. They will also receive instructions for looking up providers using the Provider Finder tool or by the calling customer service number on the back of their ID card. Account executives will communicate directly with relevant 151+ accounts.

Review the member letters:

 


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A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company,
an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.