Plan Programs. Blue Shield has a variety of relationships with other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans and their Licensed Controlled Affiliates (“Licensees”) referred to generally as “Inter-Plan Programs.” Whenever you obtain healthcare services outside of California, the claims for these services may be processed through one of these Inter-Plan Programs. When you access Covered Services outside of California you may obtain care from healthcare providers that have a contractual agreement (i.e., are “participating providers”) with the local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Licensee in that other geographic area (“Host Plan”). In some instances, you may obtain care from non- participating healthcare providers. Blue Shield’s payment practices in both instances are described in this booklet. BlueCard Program Under the BlueCard® Program, when you obtain Covered Services within the geographic area served by a Host Plan, Blue Shield will remain responsible for fulfilling our contractual obligations. However the Host Blue is responsible for contracting with and generally handling all interactions with its participating healthcare providers. The BlueCard Program enables you to obtain Covered Services outside of California, as defined, from a healthcare provider participating with a Host Plan, where available. The participating healthcare provider will automatically file a claim for the Covered Services provided to you, so there are no claim forms for you to fill out. You will be responsible for the member copayment and deductible amounts, if any, as stated in this Evidence of Coverage. Whenever you access Covered Services outside of California and the claim is processed through the Blue Card Program, the amount you pay for covered healthcare services, if not a flat dollar copayment, is calculated based on the lower of:
Plan Programs. Blue Shield has a variety of relationships with other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans and their Licensed Controlled Affiliates (“Licensees”) referred to generally as “Inter-Plan Programs.” Whenever you obtain healthcare services outside of California, the claims for these services may be BlueCard Program Under the BlueCard® Program, when you obtain Covered Services within the geographic area served by a Host Plan, Blue Shield will remain responsible for fulfilling our contractual obligations. However the Host Blue is responsible for contracting with and generally handling all interactions with its participating healthcare providers. The BlueCard Program enables you to obtain Covered Services outside of California, as defined, from a healthcare provider participating with a Host Plan, where available. The participating healthcare provider will automatically file a claim for the Covered Services provided to you, so there are no claim forms for you to fill out. You will be responsible for the member copayment and deductible amounts, if any, as stated in this Evidence of Coverage. Whenever you access Covered Services outside of California and the claim is processed through the Blue Card Program, the amount you pay for covered healthcare services, if not a flat dollar copayment, is calculated based on the lower of:
