Get the Most Out of Your Health Insurance

New to Blue? A 4-Step Member Guide

January 2, 2024
Casually dressed woman, working from home, over the digital tablet.

If you are new to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) – welcome! We make it easy for our members to start or continue their health journey. Now is the time when many are looking for doctors, scheduling appointments, and trying to understand their new coverage. We’re providing some basics to get you started.

Here are four steps to using your health plan if you are new to Blue.

1. Access your benefits

You’ll need your AZ Blue member ID information to receive healthcare services at places like the doctor’s office, the pharmacy, urgent-care center, hospital, or emergency room. We’ve made accessing your AZ Blue benefits easier and more convenient because you have more options!

  • Show Your AZ Blue ID Card: Use the ID card you get in the mail. Renewing? Last year’s card also works.
  • Print your ID Card: Log in to your account and print your ID card (front and back) at home.
  • Digital ID Card: Log in to your account and email a PDF or a screenshot of your ID card (front & back) to your provider.
  • Digital Credentials: Log in to your account and download your digital credentials to your Android or Apple Wallet.
  • Use Your Member ID Number: Your provider can still validate your eligibility without your member ID card. All they need is your full name, member number, and birthdate.

2. Sign up for your MyBlue account

Once you have your card with your member ID number on it, you can register online. Registration is easy! All you need to enter is your member ID, date of birth, name, and email address to create an account. On your MyBlue account, you will be able to do things like:

  • Find doctors, hospitals, or other healthcare providers in your plan’s network.
  • View your claims, deductibles, and out-of-pocket balances.
  • Search drug information and coverage, price medications, and place medication home delivery requests.

3. Understand what your plan covers and your costs

It’s important to understand what care your plan covers and what you may need to pay as your share for the cost of care.

Here are five ways you can learn about your coverage and utilize pricing tools:

  • Your Benefit Book: It explains all of your health plan details and is available online under the My Benefits tab on your MyBlue account.
  • Your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC): Your SBC explains what your plan covers, how it works, your cost-share amounts, and more. You can also find it under the My Benefits tab.
  • Customer Service: If you have a question about your plan or need help understanding your benefits, you can call the phone number on the back of your ID card.
  • Price a Drug: You can see exactly how much your medication will cost based on the latest status of your deductible, so you never have to worry about surprise medication costs. Go to the Pharmacy tab, select “price a drug,” and type in the name of the drug to find comparative pricing at nearby pharmacies.
  • Cost Estimations: Get an idea of healthcare costs for common services like MRI’s by using the “Cost Estimates” tool on the homepage of your MyBlue account.

4. Find healthcare providers in your plan’s network

On your MyBlue account, you have access to the Find a Doctor tool, which lists doctors, other healthcare professionals, hospitals, and facilities that are part of our network. You can search by name, type (area of specialization), or distance from your location.

Don’t pay more than you should – always seek out doctors and facilities that are in network. AZ Blue negotiates lower rates with in-network providers to protect you from paying higher medical bills. Check that all of your healthcare providers and facilities are in your plan’s network before you go. Choosing doctors from your health plan’s network ensures you are not overpaying for healthcare.

For quick access to all this information and more, we recommend you add an AZBlue.com shortcut directly to the home screen of your mobile device.

Explore additional resources that will help you get started with AZ Blue by visiting: Health Insurance & Claims Dashboard (How to Start) | BCBSAZ (azblue.com).