UPDATE: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is waiving copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance for covered in-network medical and behavioral health services delivered via telemedicine. This applies to all members who have state-regulated plans and members with employer-funded health plans unless their employer chooses not to provide telehealth services for its employees. BCBSTX members can access telehealth through providers who offer the service through telephone and/or video consultations or through their Virtual Visits (MD Live) benefit. Additional information about billing and reimbursement is available to providers on our website.
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Newsroom | News Releases
BCBSTX Lifting Telemedicine Cost-Sharing for Fully Insured Members
March 19, 2020
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) today announced that it will temporarily lift cost-sharing for medically necessary medical and behavioral health services delivered via telemedicine. This applies to all fully insured members who receive covered in-network telemedicine services.
“First and foremost, we want to make sure our members get the care they need,” said Dr. Dan McCoy, BCBSTX president. “Waiving copays for telemedicine will allow our members to consult a qualified health care provider while avoiding unnecessary visits to clinics, hospitals and emergency rooms.”
Benefits may be different for our members covered under certain employer-funded health plan’s depending on the decisions their employer makes about telemedicine.
Between now and April 30, BCBSTX will continue to consider whether to extend the timeframe of this temporary cost-sharing change.
There are two ways our eligible, fully insured members can access these telemedicine benefits at no cost share:
- Via BCBSTX in-network providers who offer the service through two-way, live interactive telephone and/or digital video consultations.
- Via their Virtual Visits benefit provided by BCBSTX and powered by MDLIVE, the doctor is in 24/7/365. Members can consult a board-certified doctor for non-emergency situations by phone, mobile app or online video. Virtual Visit doctors can send e-prescriptions to their local pharmacy.
Members can pick the easiest option to activate their MDLive account:
- Call MDLIVE at 1-888-680-8646
- Go to MDLIVE.com/BCBSTX
- Text BCBSTX to 635-483
- Download the MDLIVE app
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*Virtual Visits and telehealth services may not be available for all plans. Virtual Visits and telehealth services are subject to the terms and conditions of your benefit plan, including, but not limited to, benefits, limitations, and exclusions. Non-emergency medical service in Montana and New Mexico is limited to interactive online video. Non-emergency medical service in Arkansas and Idaho is limited to interactive online video for initial consultation. Other State law limitations may also apply.
MDLIVE is a separate company that operates and administers Virtual Visits for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. MDLIVE is solely responsible for its operations and for those of its contracted providers. MDLIVE operates subject to state laws and regulations and may not be available in certain states. MDLIVE is not an insurance product nor a prescription fulfillment warehouse. MDLIVE does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. MDLIVE does not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. MDLIVE physicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve more than 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer, and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.