Use Provider Finder® to see what doctors, hospitals and urgent care centers are in your health plan’s network. Check the Find Care page for details.
Once you find a doctor, contact their office to make sure the doctor is in your network. Share the information on your member ID card, including the full name of your plan. This will help the doctor’s team know what your plan covers.
If your primary care doctor refers you to another doctor, ask for one who is in your plan’s network. Double check to make sure the new doctor is in your network.
If you need surgery or other health services, make sure each provider who will care for you is in your plan’s network.
Log in to your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana Blue Access for MembersSM account to see if a doctor or other provider is in your network.
Your prescription benefits will help you save money when you follow these tips:
Find a Value Pharmacy
Before you fill prescriptions, search for pharmacies in your network. You may have access to the Value Pharmacy Network. Some medications have copays as low as $0 at preferred pharmacies. Log in to your BAM account and search for pharmacies near you, including those in the Value Pharmacy Network.
Check Your Approved List
Your drug coverage is based on an approved list of drugs considered safe and cost-effective. This list, called a formulary, is updated regularly. It’s always wise to confirm your medications are on the drug list. Log in to BAM to search for covered drugs.
Ask About Generic Drugs
There are times when a generic drug may be a good choice. Learn more about the difference between generic and brand drugs. Remember to ask your doctor about generic options for your prescriptions.
Earn and Use Rewards
When you pick a preferred pharmacy, ask if they have a member or buyer rewards program. You may earn rewards through purchases. Rewards can be used toward cash discounts on future purchases at some pharmacies.
Learn about more ways to save on prescription drugs.
Any member of a participating BCBSMT plan is eligible for Blue365 discounts. Federal Employee Program members across the country are also welcome.
Discount Categories
- Home and Family
- Fitness
- Nutrition
- Apparel and footwear
- Hearing and vision
- Personal care
Get Started
- Create a free account. Have your BCBSMT member ID card ready.
- When you log in, you’ll see all current deals. Click on details. You may:
- Earn a coupon code that you can apply to your purchase on the vendor's site.
- Be sent to the vendor’s site with the discount already been applied for you.
Considerations
- Blue365 deals change or end often. If you see one you like, don’t wait. It may not be there the next time you log in.
- There’s no maximum that limits the number of deals you can snag. Try as many as you like.
- Blue365 is not extra insurance coverage. It is not a health plan. It’s a way to save money on health and wellness items. You can register for Blue365 at any time with no waiting periods, limitations, deductibles or claim forms. Think of it as an extra perk to your BCBSMT health coverage.
Log in to your member account. It will show how much you’ve paid toward your deductible — and how close you are to meeting your out-of-pocket maximum.
Knowing this information makes it easier to plan for medical expenses. You can decide when and where to get medical services, which helps you make the most of your benefits. Keep in mind, your deductible resets at the start of each year or when you enroll in a new plan.
When you track your deductible, you can better manage your health care spending. Here's how it works:
- Paying first: Your deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance starts to help. For example, if your deductible is $5,000, you need to pay this amount on your own for medical costs at the start of the year.
- Cost sharing: After you meet your deductible, you only pay a part of any new medical costs. This is called coinsurance. If your coinsurance is 20%, you pay 20% of your bills and your insurance pays the other 80%.
- Spending cap: There's a limit to how much you must pay in one year. After you reach this limit, which includes your deductible and any coinsurance, your insurance will pay for all your covered medical costs for the rest of the year.
- Yearly reset: Every year, your deductible starts over. Knowing how much you've paid towards your deductible helps you plan for medical expenses and avoid surprises.
When you choose doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in your health plan's network, you save money.
BCBSMT negotiates with providers to deliver care at the best possible prices for our members. Once a contract is in place, physicians, hospitals and other providers are considered “in network” because they agree to charge set prices for their services.
- In-network provider: Your care costs are often reimbursed at the highest level.
- Out-of-network provider: You may pay higher out-of-pocket costs for your health care. In some cases, you may have to pay the full cost.
In addition, your health plan has tools to help you find in-network doctors, therapists, pharmacies and other providers.
Cost-sharing assistance helps you lower your health care costs through the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. This assistance reduces the amount you must pay out of your own pocket for health care, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Here’s what you need to know:
- Deductibles decrease the amount you need to pay before your insurance starts to cover medical costs.
- Coinsurance reduces the percentage you pay after your deductible has been met.
- Copays cover part of the cost for each provider's office visit and prescription so you pay less.
To qualify for this assistance you need to:
- Have income that falls within a specific range based on your household size.
- Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, or be eligible for a government or employer-sponsored insurance plan.
- Choose a plan from the Silver category on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
With cost-sharing assistance, you can spend less on health care.
They offer tax credit for the dollars you spend on health care costs. Based on your family size and income, it can save you money.
- You can apply for the tax credit when you sign up for insurance.
- You can use the credit right away to lower monthly premium costs.
- You don't have to wait to claim credits when you file your taxes.
Learn more about premium tax credits.
Both programs reward members who strive to live healthy lifestyles. They offer deals on products and services that help you stay healthy for less.
Blue365®
BCBSMT members can find deals in six main categories:
- Apparel and footwear
- Fitness
- Hearing and vision
- Home and family
- Nutrition
- Personal care
Discounts can include savings on outdoor clothing and athletic shoes, gyms, classes and trackers, glasses and contacts, dental services, vitamins and wearables, snack bars, weight loss programs and meal delivery services, mindfulness classes and fitness products.
To start saving, log in to the Blue365 site. If you don’t already have an account, it’s easy to create one. Be sure your member ID card is handy when setting up your account.
Well onTarget
Enjoy 24/7 access to a secure member portal — Well onTarget. You’ll find personalized tools and resources at your fingertips, including a fitness program, coaching and a rewards program.
BCBSMT has a broad network of preferred pharmacies. To use your benefits, simply find a local contracting pharmacy and show your member ID card.
Value Pharmacy Network (PPN)
- Some members may have a value pharmacy as part of their prescription drug plan.
- If a value pharmacy is included in your benefits, be sure to fill your prescriptions at these pharmacies.
- When you visit a preferred pharmacy, you’ll get the lowest copay or coinsurance amount.
Learn more about value pharmacies.
Yes, they do. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health spending accounts (HSAs) help pay medical expenses and offer tax-savings benefits. Here’s one way they can help you make the most of your health care dollars:
If your health plan requires you to meet a deductible before it starts paying, the upfront, out-of-pocket cost could be expensive – several hundred dollars or more if you’re seeing a specialist.
- HSAs and FSAs cover these out-of-pocket costs. They are funded by pre-tax dollars.
- At the end of the year, you also have a lower reported income due to the money placed in these accounts.
Benefits of an HSA
- Some employers contribute to your HSA.
- If you don’t use all the money in your account by the end of the year, you can roll it over. Your HSA money grows from year-to-year and never expires.
- Plus, you get to keep all the interest. You can even take your money with you if you retire, change jobs or move to another city.
What Isn’t Covered by an HSA?
- While your money rolls over year to year, your HSA may not cover a major medical expense.
- An HSA isn’t an emergency piggy bank. There are penalties if you use it to cover non-qualified medical expenses.
FSA Limitations
If you have extra money in your account at the end of the year, you lose it. Rollover limits can vary and employers decide to allow it or cap it at a lower amount. Your employer owns the account, and you can’t take the funds with you if you change jobs or retire.
Which Should I Choose?
Your choice depends on the level of coverage that’s right for you. If you are not managing ongoing medical treatment and you want the ability to contribute and invest the money you save for future medical expenses, an HDHP/HSA combination may be right for you. If you are managing a chronic health condition and ongoing medical expenses, an FSA might be better. Our customer advocates and your human resources department can help you decide.