Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) members with specific plans have the ability to access coverage and receive care while traveling or living out of state, in another BCBS service area outside of their BCBS plan's home state (i.e. the state listed on your plan).
For example, if a BCBS of Massachusetts member has one of these plans, but lives in New York, they will be able to see a provider in NY with their BCBS MA plan.
Determining the type of plan you have
The best way to tell if you have a BCBS plan that allows you to see providers outside of your BCBS plan's home state is by looking at your insurance card. If you have this type of plan, your card will include the following elements:
- A three character prefix at the beginning of the member ID. This can be 3 letters, or it may be alphanumeric – a mix of numbers and letters (e.g. 1AA, A1A, AA1).
- A suitcase logo. This may be empty, or have letters written inside of it.
If your insurance card does not include the elements listed above, you may not be eligible to see a provider outside of your your BCBS plan's home state when traveling or living out of state.
Still unsure? Call your insurance carrier directly using the number on the back of your insurance card, or reach out to us, to verify.
Getting care on Headway with a BCBS plan
You can find and see a provider through Headway wherever you are currently living or traveling, as long as you are physically located in the same state as your provider at the time of the session.
You can still use Headway to see a provider! If this is the case, and we can accept your BCBS plan, you must:
- Reside in the state in which your BCBS plan is administered out of, and
- See a provider within that state.
For example, if you have Anthem BCBS NY, you must live in NY and see a provider in NY.