This Plan is a health maintenance organization (HMO). OPM requires that FEHB plans be accredited to validate that plan operations and/or care management meet nationally recognized standards. Blue Care Network of Michigan holds the following accreditations: National Commitee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). To learn more about this plan’s accreditation(s), please visit the following websites: www.ncqa.org. We require you to see specific physicians, hospitals and other providers that contract with us. Our Plan providers coordinate your health care services, and we are solely responsible for the selection of these providers in your area. Contact us for a copy of our most recent provider directory by calling 800-662-6667 or by visiting our website www.bcbsm.com/find-a-doctor.
HMOs emphasize preventive care such as routine office visits, physical exams, well-baby care and immunizations, in addition to treatment for illness and injury. Our providers follow generally accepted medical practice when prescribing any course of treatment.
When you receive services from Plan providers, you will not have to submit claim forms or pay bills. You pay only the coinsurance and copayments as applicable and described in this brochure. When you receive emergency services from non-Plan providers, you may have to submit claim forms.
You should join an HMO because you prefer the plan’s benefits, not because a particular provider is available. You cannot change plans because a provider leaves our Plan. We cannot guarantee that any one physician, hospital, or other provider will be available and/or remain under contract with us.
General features of our High Option
Under the High Option, there is no calendar year deductible. Your required cost-share for most benefits are copayments; however, a few do require coinsurance. The plan also has an out-of-pocket maximum of $6,350 Self, $12,700 for Self Plus One and $12,700 Self and Family. Medical and prescription copayments and coinsurance count toward this annual out-of-pocket maximum.
Preventive care services are covered with no cost-sharing and are not subject to copayments when received from a network provider.
How we pay providers
We contract with individual physicians, medical groups, and hospitals to provide the benefits in this brochure. These Plan providers accept a negotiated payment from us, and you will only be responsible for your cost-sharing (copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and non-covered services and supplies).
More than 20,000 participating physicians (primary care providers and specialists) provide health care services to Blue Care Network of Michigan enrollees. These doctors are located in private offices and medical centers throughout the service area. We also contract with all acute care hospitals in Michigan.
Your rights and responsibilities
OPM requires that all FEHB plans provide certain information to their FEHB members about us, our networks and our providers. OPM’s FEHB website (www.opm.gov/insure) lists the specific types of information that we must make available to you. Some of the required information is listed below.
Blue Care Network of Michigan believes that members are an essential part of the health care team and have responsibility for their own health.
All members have the right to:
- Receive information about their health care in a manner that is understandable to them
- Receive medically necessary care as outlined in this brochure
- Receive considerate and courteous care with respect for privacy and human dignity
- Candidly discuss appropriate medically necessary treatment options for their conditions, regardless of cost of benefit coverage
- Participate with practitioners in decision making regarding their health care
- Expect confidentiality regarding their care
- Refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law and be informed of the consequences of those actions
- Voice concerns about their health care by submitting a formal written complaint or grievance through the Blue Care Network of Michigan Member Grievance program
- Receive written information about Blue Care Network of Michigan, its services, practitioners and providers and member rights and responsibilities in a clear and understandable manner
- Know Blue Care Network of Michigan’s financial relationships with its health care facilities or primary care provider groups
Blue Care Network of Michigan members also have responsibilities as outlined in this brochure. All members have the responsibility to:
- Read this brochure and all other materials for members and call Customer Service with any questions
- Coordinate all nonemergency care through their primary care provider
- Use the Blue Care Network of Michigan provider network unless otherwise approved by Blue Care Network of Michigan and the primary care provider
- Comply with the treatment plans and instructions for care as prescribed by their practitioners. Members, who choose not to comply, must advise their physician
- Provide, to the extent possible, information that BCN and its physicians and providers need in order to provide care
- Make and keep appointments for nonemergency medical care, calling the doctor’s office to promptly cancel appointments when necessary
- Participate in medical decisions about their health
- Be considerate and courteous to providers, their staff and other patients
- Notify Blue Care Network of Michigan of address changes and additions or deletions of dependents covered by their contract
- Protect their identification card against misuse and contact Customer Service immediately if a card is lost or stolen
- Report all other insurance programs that cover their health and their family’s health
Blue Care Network of Michigan is a nonprofit HMO, an affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. It was formed in February 1998 when four affiliated Blue Care Network of Michigan organizations (Blue Care Network of East Michigan, Blue Care Network-Great Lakes, Blue Care Network Mid-Michigan and Blue Care Network of Southeast Michigan) merged into a single, new company.
If you want more information about us, call 800-662-6667, write to Blue Care Network of Michigan, 26255 American Dr., Southfield, MI 48034, Mail Code A02A or visit our website at www.bcbsm.com.
By law, you have the right to access your protected health information (PHI). For more information regarding access to PHI, visit our website at www.bcbsm.com to obtain our Notice of Privacy Practices. You can also contact us to request that we mail you a copy of that Notice.
Your medical and claims records are confidential
We will keep your medical and claims records confidential. Please note that we may disclose your medical and claims information (including your prescription drug utilization) to any of your treating physicians or dispensing pharmacies.
Service area
To enroll in this Plan, you must live in or work in our service area. This is where our providers practice. Our service area is:
East Michigan — Code K5
Serving Arenac, Bay, Genesee, Gratiot, Isabella, Lapeer, Midland, Saginaw, Shiawassee (excluding the towns of Perry, Shaftsburg and Morrice) and Tuscola counties.
Southeast Michigan — Code LX
Serving Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
If you or a family member move, you do not have to wait until open enrollment season to change plans. Contact your employer or retirement office.
Out-of-Area Care
Blue Care Network of Michigan is affiliated with BlueCard®, a national network of Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Members can obtain follow up and urgent care when traveling outside of Michigan by contacting BlueCard at 800-810-BLUE or www.bcbsm.com. Members living away from home for part of the year — students at college, for instance — can also use BlueCard for routine care, provided they call their primary care provider before travel to arrange for coordinated care and required authorizations.