When you need care while traveling, remember to always call your primary care physician first. As a Blue Care Network member, you need approval from us for care you receive. It’s always a good idea to call your primary care physician before you leave on any trip. They can go over what options you have for care when you're traveling. That way you won't end up paying for care that isn't covered.
Here are the steps you take depending on what care you need and where.
How to get care when traveling within Michigan and the U.S.
As an HMO member, there are limits to the type of care you get that's covered when you travel outside your plan's network and around the U.S. Refer to your Certificate of Coverage and riders or call customer service to find out about limitations to travel coverage.
For emergency care or accidental injuries:
- Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital or emergency care center. Emergency care is always covered within the U.S. Just make sure you have your Blue Care Network ID card on you.
For urgent care that requires attention within 48 hours:
- Urgent care is covered, no matter where you are in the U.S. Just make sure you have your Blue Care Network ID card on you.
- When you need to find a doctor or hospital in Michigan, just enter your address, city or any location to find nearby care from a Blue Care Network doctor or hospital. If you aren't near a computer, you can call the Customer Service number on the back of your Blue Care Network ID card. If you’re outside of Michigan, call 1-800-810-2583 for a list of doctors and hospitals in your area.
For non-emergency, routine care:
- For members who purchase their own health care plan or have certain Medicare Advantage plans, care outside the state of Michigan is not covered, except for eligible urgent, emergency or accidental injury services.
- Contact your primary care physician. If they're not available, call the Customer Service number on the back of your Blue Care Network ID card. Your primary care physician will help direct you to Blue Care Network doctors in your area who can provide routine care or follow-up care that doesn't require you to go to an emergency room.
- You're still covered when you leave Michigan. But, Blue Care Network covers only a limited amount of health care services when you’re outside of your plan's network or outside of Michigan.
- You still need approval from Blue Care Network to get coverage for any care you receive.
- If you’re not sure if the care you need is covered, call Customer Service.
How to get care when traveling outside the U.S.
Outside the U.S. you have access to doctors and hospitals in more than 200 countries and territories around the world with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core program. Before you leave for your trip, you'll want to make sure you have international benefits with your plan. If you do, here’s how you get care that’s covered when you travel overseas.
For emergency care or accidental injuries:
- Go to the nearest hospital.
- All emergency care is covered no matter where you are. Just make sure you have your Blue Care Network ID card on you.
- If you’re not sure where to go to get help, call Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core at 1-800-810-2583 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a representative will direct you to the nearest hospital.
- You may need to pay for all costs upfront. You can submit a claim form and send it with any itemized bills to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Service Center. Find claim forms at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core website.
For non-emergency, routine care:
- You're only covered for emergency care and accidental injuries when traveling abroad.
GeoBlue
Purchase a GeoBlue insurance plan to get the same comprehensive care you're used to at home. You can get it for international vacation, business travel or even study abroad. Find out more details on our international plans page.
