Your guide to care while traveling
Traveling during the holiday season can be stressful. No matter how far from home you go, your HealthSelect of Texas® medical plan covers the care you and your covered family members might need.
Before you leave: travel checklist
You can take a few simple steps before you leave to help prevent an unexpected medical issue from spoiling your time away from home.
- ▢ Bring your medical ID card with you. If you need a replacement card, print one off your health plan’s website or call a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) Personal Health Assistant to ask for one. (See “Questions” section below for contact information.)
- ▢ Take phone numbers of health plan providers and specialists for you and your eligible dependents.
- If you are a HealthSelect of Texas plan participant, check if your primary care provider (PCP) offers telemedicine services before you leave. If they do, they can be your first contact for general health concerns or questions.
- ▢ Keep all related receipts and paperwork if you get medical care while traveling.
Traveling within the U.S.
If you are traveling out of state but within the U.S., you have access to the same in-network benefits you get in Texas, as long as you visit in-network providers.
To find in-network providers while you’re traveling within the U.S.:
- use the Provider Finder® tool or
- call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant toll-free. (See “Questions” section below for contact information.)
If you are enrolled in the HealthSelect of Texas plan, you will need to get a referral from your PCP to visit a health care provider for non-emergency care. Once you find a provider, contact your PCP, explain that you are traveling and ask for a referral. However, you don’t need a referral to go to an in-network urgent care facility.
Note: If you need non-emergency inpatient services while traveling, you must contact a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant to get prior authorization before you receive service.
You also have the option of online or phone support for non-emergency health concerns or questions while traveling in the U.S.:
- Medical Virtual Visits, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no cost if you are enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas®, HealthSelectSM Out-of-State or HealthSelectSM Secondary plans. Consumer Directed HealthSelectSM who haven’t met the deductible will pay the full cost of a medical Virtual Visit; if they’ve met the deductible, they’ll pay coinsurance. You can choose between Doctor on Demand® and MDLIVE®.
- 24/7 Nurseline toll-free at (800) 581-0368 (TTY: 711) to speak to BCBSTX nurse at any time, day or night. Nurses can answer your general health questions and advise you to call a doctor or encourage you to seek emergency services, if necessary.
International travel
If you are traveling outside of the U.S., Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® Core allows you to see providers abroad for covered health services at the out-of-network benefit level. If you seek care outside of the U.S., you will have to meet an out-of-network annual deductible. If you have a true emergency, the cost of your care will be covered at the in-network level, but some providers may require you to pay for your care up front and submit a claim with Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core for reimbursement.
For care during international travel, you can:
- register for access and use the international Find a Provider tool via bcbsglobalcore.com or
- call Global Core customer service toll-free at (800) 810-BLUE (2583).
Questions?
For more information, visit the HealthSelect Care While Traveling page.
If you need extra assistance with finding care or have benefits or coverage questions, call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant toll-free at (800) 252-8039 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT., and Saturday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT.
You can also communicate via secure chat and secure messaging Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., CT, after logging into Blue Access for MembersSM.