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BlueCard is worldwide

Blue Cross Blue Shield Global offers insurance coverage to foreign Blue Cross members who are living or traveling in the United States, and it also provides coverage for domestic members who are traveling or living abroad.

When your patients travel overseas

Your Blue Cross Blue Shield members can receive inpatient and outpatient services through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Program when they travel outside of the United States or live overseas. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core-participating hospitals are located in major travel destinations and business centers in more than 200 countries. (Medicare Advantage members are ineligible for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Program.)

When a member requires inpatient care abroad, they will need to call the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Service Center at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583), show their Blue Cross ID card to the provider, and call their Blue Plan for precertification. In most cases, members will not need to pay upfront for inpatient care coordinated by Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core except for out-of-pocket expenses (non-covered services, deductible, copayment and co-insurance) they would normally pay. Members will be required to pay for outpatient services and professional services up front and submit a Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core International claim form with an itemized bill for reimbursement to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Service Center. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core also provides medical assistance services and interpreters.

For a list of Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core-participating hospitals, or for help in locating a professional provider, call the Service Center at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583) or visit bcbsglobalcore.com.

Out-of-country members receiving services in the United States

BUPA Global/Geo Blue members traveling from out of country to the United States can receive medical services through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global. You may collect the same type of out-of-pocket expenses (deductible, copayment, co-insurance, non-covered services) as you currently collect for in-state or domestic Blue Cross Blue Shield members. Please verify eligibility and coverage for these members by calling 1-800-676-BLUE (2583). Claims for these members should be submitted to your local Plan using the same claim submission process you use currently for in-state or domestic BlueCard members.

Medicare PPO Blue members

Medicare PPO Blue offers a Visitor/Traveler Program that includes in-network benefits and cost-sharing when a member receives treatment for covered services from participating Blue Medicare Advantage PPO network providers outside of their Home Plan.  

There are network providers in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Under Medicare Advantage rules, if the member is absent from the service area for more than 6 months, the member must be disenrolled. However, in areas where we offer the Visitor/Travel Program, members may remain in the Plan while out of our service area for up to 12 months. In some cases, network providers are available in select areas of the state.

To locate a participating network provider a Member can:

  • Call the Member Service phone line during regular business hours, or
  • Call 1-800-810-BLUE to find a Blue Medicare Advantage PPO provider, or
  • Visit the Blue National Doctor & Hospital Finder to find a Blue Medicare Advantage PPO provider.
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