Getting to know Blue Connect (2023)

Ready to explore the benefits of your Blue Connect select network plan? As with any insurance plan, a few smart choices can help you avoid big, unexpected medical bills.

Blue Connect plan = Blue Connect HMO/POS network

ID card
1

MEMBER NAME

- Your name will appear here.

2

MEMBER ID NUMBER

- Used to identify you so your provider knows how to bill your health plan.

3

PHARMACY COVERAGE

- This is where you will find Plan Description and ID Numbers relating to your Pharmacy Coverage.

4

PLAN TYPE

- What type of network your plan has and which providers you can see who are "in-network."


KNOW YOUR COVERAGE

Where Am I Covered?

If you are a resident of one of the parishes listed below, you are covered with Blue Connect when you visit Blue Connect doctors, clinics and hospitals. 

Visit bcbsla.com/blue-connect to find a doctor in your network.

Blue Connect map

COVERED PARISHES

Greater New Orleans/Northshore:
Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany parishes

Lafayette/Acadiana:
Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes

Shreveport/Bossier:
Bossier and Caddo parishes

Essential Health Benefits

Your plan covers a variety of benefits to keep you healthy. They include:

Ambulatory (outpatient) services

Ambulatory (outpatient) services

Emergency care services

Emergency care services

Hospital benefits

Hospital benefits

Coverage for clinical trials

Coverage for clinical trials

Rehabilitative and habilitative services

Rehabilitative and habilitative services

Laboratory services

Laboratory services

Maternity and newborn care
Maternity and newborn care

Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Pharmacy and prescription drugs

Contraceptive coverage

Contraceptive coverage

Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management

Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management

Vision and dental benefits for your children

Vision and dental benefits for your children

Mental health and substance use disorder services

Mental health and substance use disorder services

Schedule of Benefits

Your Schedule of Benefits (SOB) includes information about what services are covered, what's not covered and how much it will cost.
Example of Schedule of Benefits document
1

IN-NETWORK

providers have agreed to accept a contracted (discounted) rate for your care. You'll save money by visiting a doctor or hospital in your network.
2

OUT-OF-NETWORK 

providers can charge more, which means you'll pay more when you visit an out-of-network doctor or hospital.
3

COMPARISON

Shows a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for specific services if you choose to visit a doctor that is in your network versus one that is outside your network.

Prescription Drug Coverage

You can manage your prescription drug coverage by logging in at lablue.com/myaccount and choosing "Pharmacy" on the dark blue bar near the top of the page. Once you log in, you can:

See your drug claims

See your drug claims

Price a drug

Price a drug

See more about drug benefits

Book icon

Learn about your medicine

Find a pharmacy

Find a pharmacy

File a drug claim

File a drug claim

You can also view covered drug lists, search for drugs and find out how to save on drugs at lablue.com/rx.


MANAGE YOUR COST

Stay in Your Network

Control costs by staying in your network. Your plan includes both in-network and out-of-network coverage, but you will pay more when you visit an out-of-network doctor or hospital.

Be proactive about staying in your network by visiting bcbsla.com/blue-connect to find a doctor or hospital in your network. Blue Connect members have access to Ochsner Health Network (OHN) and other participating providers. While the Blue Connect product is offered only in the Lafayette, New Orleans and Shreveport areas, Blue Connect members may also access Blue Connect network providers located in other parishes.

Blue Connect plan = Blue Connect HMO/POS network

Pick a Primary Care Doctor

You must pick a primary care doctor in the Blue Connect network to handle most of your medical needs when you are sick or injured.
General Practice, Family Practice, Internal Medicne, Geriatrics (for adults), Pediatrics (for children)
Pick a primary care doctor by logging into your account or by calling Blue Cross Customer Service at the number on the back of your ID card.

Quality Blue

We are committed to providing you with affordable access to quality healthcare through our Quality Blue program. If your doctor takes part in this program, you are a part of it, too. You can ask your provider if they are in the Quality Blue program or look them up in our directory at lablue.com/findcare. Quality Blue providers have an indicator as shown below:

Quality Blue Provider

Learn More About Quality Blue

Get Care in the Right Place

Save time and money by getting the right care in the right place. Don't go to the emergency room for a cold.

Primary Care

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BlueCare Telehealth

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Urgent Care

satchel with three dollar signs

$$$

Emergency Room

ambulance icon with three dollar signs

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Choose the Right Care


BENEFIT FROM CONVENIENCE

Your Online Account

Activate your Louisiana Blue online account quickly and easily. Once you're registered, you can manage your account, choose to go paperless, review your benefits, see your claims status, view your digital ID card, and more - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Image of laptop
Learn How to Set Up Your AccountActivate Your Account

Virtual Visits: Save Time and Money with Online Visits!

Ochsner's Virtual OnDemand Urgent Care service lets members with a Blue Connect plan have private, secure video visits with a healthcare provider from the convenience of your workplace or home. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer to get started. For urgent care conditions like colds, fever and rashes, you can see a provider 24/7 with no appointment needed. Several providers, including Ochsner providers, are available for urgent care visits via the new MyOchsner app!

Simply download the MyOchsner app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and select “Start an urgent care virtual visit” upon logging in! Visit ochsner.org/my-ochsner to learn more.

MyOchsner app logo   Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play  

Explanation of Benefits

After each visit to a doctor or hospital, we will send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). It is a summary of the charges for the care or services you received. It shows what we cover and what the provider charged or what the service cost. It is not a bill. You may choose to go paperless and get your EOBs online by logging in at lablue.com/myaccount and choosing "Account Preferences."
Image of example Explanation of Benefits
1

AMOUNT CHARGED

What the doctor, clinic or hospital charged for care.
2

PLAN(S) DISCOUNTS & PAYMENTS

This is your discount on care costs or what your plan paid for care.
3

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

This is what you must pay for care before your health coverage begins to pay for the parts of your care that are not covered by your plan.
4

AMOUNT YOU MAY OWE

This is the part of your claims you may have to pay out of pocket.
Go to EOB

What Should You Do After Enrollment?

Congratulations! You've got health insurance. But now what do you do? Don't worry, we've got answers!

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