BCBSTX Special Disaster Procedures

Special procedures in place to assist Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas members during disaster

Sept. 11 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is extending our hurricane response procedures established last week for Hurricane Gustav, to respond to our members’ needs during Hurricane Ike.

BCBSTX members who need medical attention and are unable to seek care from their primary care physician or another BCBSTX network provider may see any licensed physician (MD/DO) or facility during your displacement and we will pay their claim at the in-network level of benefits. (Please note this does not suspend other exclusions or limitations of their policy.)

Also, pre-certification and referral requirements will be waived so that members can obtain immediate access to care.

For prescriptions, early refill requests for a 30-day supply will be honored. We also will provide directions and assistance in transferring prescriptions from a mail order service or other retail pharmacy, or having mail-order prescriptions sent to an alternate address due to temporary relocation.

Member information on prescriptions, past procedures, lab results and immunizations are accessible to physicians and hospitals quickly and easily by calling our Emergency Provider Hotline at 888-421-5843. The provider does not have to be a contracting provider in order to access the information during this period.

BCBSTX members who live, go to school, work or have dual residence in another state and are displaced by the disaster, can access medical and prescription services under the same processes, through the BlueCard® national program as they do normally.

BCBSTX Customer Service representatives are standing by to assist members who need help finding care, have coverage questions or need replacement ID cards. Members should call the Customer Service number on the back of their Member ID card. Those without a card may call 800-521-2227 and they will be transferred to the appropriate customer service area for their group.

These temporary exceptions for Hurricane Ike are in place for the 88 counties designated as disaster areas by Governor Rick Perry and are limited to the time period of Sept. 8 through Sept. 22, 2008. That range could be extended at a later date if warranted.