Out-of-area coverage covers members who are temporarily living or traveling out-of-state or out of the service area. This coverage includes the Guest Membership and BlueCard^® Urgent Care^SM  Programs.

Guest Membership

Guest membership gives members and their eligible dependents access to health care benefits when traveling or temporarily living of state.

Here's how it works:

• When a member lives in a different participating service area for at least 90 consecutive days, the member and his or her eligible dependents can become Guest Members at a participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO.
• Guest Membership gives members ongoing access to the health care benefit coverage.
• This benefit is particularly valuable for members on extended trips or out-of-state students.
• If a member is permanently moving out of state, he or she is not eligible for Guest Membership coverage.

Participating as a Guest Membership

Members should call Member Services before leaving home to find out if Guest Membership is available at the destination or to sign up with a host Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO.

Out-of-Area Urgent Care

Out-of-area Urgent Care, which is administered through the BlueCard Program, provides members with health care benefits for care that is not a medical emergency, but should not be reasonably postponed until they return home.

Under the Urgent Care program, members do not have to pay for the visit up-front or submit a claim. Additionally, members and covered dependents may receive urgent care services through a national network of participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.