Value-Added Services for STAR

We have a 24-hour Nurse Advice Line to answer your health care questions any time you need it. The 24 Hour Nurseline has highly trained nurses that can help you decide what to do to get your family feeling better fast.

If an unexpected medical situation arises, a nurse can help you decide if you should call your doctor, visit the ER or urgent care, or treat the problem yourself. A nurse can also let you know if you can wait to see the doctor the next day. You can talk to a nurse in your own language about any health problem.

Teens may also call the Nurseline and speak to a nurse in private about teen health issues.

You can also listen to audio tapes on hundreds of health topics, such as:

• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Children’s health
• High blood pressure
• Sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS

They will help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call the 24/7 Nurseline at 1-877-351-8392. If you have hearing or speech loss, you can call the TTY line toll-free at 1-800-386-4424.

Note: This Value Added Service has no limitations. Members may access the Nurseline at any time.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) wants to encourage children and adolescents to visit their primary care provider (PCP) regularly. That’s why we offer incentive gift cards to BCBSTX STAR members who qualify.

Incentive Gift Card for Texas Health Steps Checkups for Infants

BCBSTX offers a $75 gift card to STAR members ages birth through 15 months who complete their Texas Health Steps checkups.

To get the gift card, members must be active on the plan at the time of the checkup, and checkups must be completed by an in-network PCP (Primary Care Provider). Gift card awards are based on claims your doctor will send to BCBSTX after the checkup is completed. Once your doctor sends BCBSTX the claim, it could take up to two months for you to get the gift card.

To receive the gift card, the member/parent/guardian must register through the Healthmine portal. After your provider submits a claim to BCBSTX, you will get a letter in the mail that will tell you how to register with Healthmine where you can choose your gift card award.

If you have received a notice that you have earned a reward for getting your child a Texas Health Steps visit, go to bcbstx.com/wellnessrewards to register to receive your gift card reward in the mail. 

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

Adolescents should see their PCP or OB/GYN once a year. STAR members ages 12 to 18 who get their yearly Texas Health Steps checkup are eligible to get a $25 gift card.

To get the gift card, members must be active on the plan at the time of the checkup, and checkups must be completed by an in-network PCP or OB/GYN. Gift card awards are based on claims your doctor will send to BCBSTX after the checkup is completed. Once your doctor sends BCBSTX the claim, it could take up to two months for you to get the gift card.

To receive the gift card, the member/parent/guardian must register through the Healthmine portal. After your provider submits a claim to BCBSTX, you will get a letter in the mail that will tell you how to register with Healthmine where you can choose your gift card award.

If you have received a notice that you have earned a reward for getting your child a Texas Health Steps visit, go to bcbstx.com/wellnessrewards to register to receive your gift card reward in the mail. 

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) offers dental services to adult STAR members age 21 and older as a Value-Added Services. Adult STAR Members are eligible to receive up to $250 per year in preventative, diagnostic, and dental care treatment. These services may include:

• Dental exams and cleanings
• Dental x-rays
• Cavity fillings
• Tooth extractions

If you are a BCBSTX STAR member and you would like to receive or learn more about dental services for adults ages 21 and older, please call DentaQuest directly for assistance. DentaQuest can help members find in-network providers and get authorizations for dental services. Call DentaQuest's Customer Service toll-free to find out if you are eligible at 1-800-205-4715, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday.

View the Dental Provider Directory (adult STAR members only)

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

STAR members ages 18 and under can get one upgrade to eyewear each year such as:

• one pair of stylish frames (upgraded from basic frames), 
• upgraded lenses,
• or an extra pair of glasses.

Children must complete an eye exam before using this VAS. The value of the upgrade cannot be over $150. The VAS must be fulfilled by a Davis Vision provider.

For more information on our enhanced eyewear for kids, call Customer Service at 1-888-657-6061. Members with hearing or speech loss may call the TTY line at 711.

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

STAR members over the age of 19 are eligible to receive up to $100 of fresh fruits and vegetables per year.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas recognizes that nutrition is an important factor in your child’s overall health. That’s why we offer a meal benefit that includes frozen meal delivery to qualifying members after leaving the hospital.

STAR members who go home after a hospital stay will be offered the chance to order up to 14 meals from the meal services provider.

This will allow you and your family to focus on your child’s health and safety instead of worrying about grocery shopping and meal preparation. The meals will include breakfast, lunch and dinner options. The meals can be chosen from a menu. Specialized options include but are not limited to:

• Heart-friendly meals
• Diabetic-friendly meals
• Cancer-support meals based on nutritional guidelines from the American Institute for Cancer Research
• Gluten-free meals
• Vegetarian meals
• Meals with low sodium

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is available for trips to health care appointments, the pharmacy, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) visits, BCBSTX sponsored meetings, therapy and approved health education classes. The following member information must be provided to the intake operator at the time of the call:

• Member ID number
• The date the member wants to ride
• The name, address and phone number of where the member is going
• What kind of appointment they are attending
• If they will need a wheelchair van or some other kind of help during the trip

We help STAR kids take part in sports and fitness activities by giving free physicals for kids 18 and under who are going to camp or playing sports.

Make an appointment with your child's Primary Care Provider (PCP) to get the physical. No authorization is needed. If you have questions, call our customer service at 1-888-657-6061. Members with hearing or speech loss may call the TTY line at 711.

Note: Value Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value Added Services brochure.

$25 Prenatal Visit Incentive Gift Card

Pregnant STAR, CHIP and CHIP Perinate members who complete their first prenatal visit within the first three months of pregnancy or within 42 days of joining our plan are eligible for a $25 gift card.

To receive the $25 reward, members will need to have their doctor fill out a BCBSTX Prenatal Visit form, sign it and return to BCBSTX.

STAR members who deliver while on the BCBSTX plan are eligible to receive a $25 gift card upon timely completion of the postpartum visit.

Limitations: Members who have delivered on the STAR plan must complete the postpartum visit 7 to 84 days after delivery. Members must be active on the plan to receive the gift card reward.

BCBSTX offers online prenatal classes to pregnant STAR members, at no cost. You can take an online class at any time in English and 15 other languages.

You will get a diaper bag filled with new baby items when you finish your online BCBSTX prenatal class. After you complete the prenatal class, fill out the certificate of completion found at the end of the lesson and fax it to 1-512-349-4867. The diaper bag reward will be shipped to the address you write on the certificate. Call Member Outreach to register for an online class.

Limitations: You must be an active BCBSTX STAR member, be pregnant and take at least one prenatal class to get the diaper bag reward. Only one diaper bag per member will be awarded.

Pregnant members who register for the Special Beginnings maternity program will have access to breastfeeding education information provided by Special Beginnings nurses. The Special Beginnings maternity program can help you better understand and manage your pregnancy. When you register for Special Beginnings, you will get a Special Beginnings Service Manager. Your Service Manager is a specially trained nurse that will talk to you about how you and your baby are doing and will continue to call you up to six weeks after your baby is born.

If you are pregnant and would like to register for Special Beginnings, please call us toll-free at 1-888-421-7781 (TTY 711) or email Special Beginnings at TXSBMedicaid@bcbstx.com.

Ask your Special Beginnings Service Manager how you can qualify for your choice of a free infant car seat or pack and play playard and other VAS for pregnant women.

This program encourages pregnant women to get timely prenatal care. Pregnant STAR members who complete a timely prenatal visit and register for our Special Beginnings program can choose an infant car seat or a pack and play playard.

Prenatal Care Incentive Options form

Take the form to your doctor to sign during your prenatal visit and fax it to Member Outreach at 1-512-349-4867. The car seat or pack and play playard will be sent to the address you put on the form.

STAR members ages 18 or younger can receive up to $100 value ($50 per school semester) for Boys and Girls Club membership.

Limitations: Parents/guardians of members 18 or younger may request membership to the Boys and Girls Club by contacting your local Boys and Girls Club. For questions about this VAS, call Member Outreach Representatives at 1-877-375-9097.

STAR members can access online Behavioral Health tools where they can login to get information that may help members get a better understanding of their specific behavioral health concerns. These online tools are extra services available to members 24/7.

Limitations: Members must have login information to utilize this service as provided by Case Management.

Members who have been discharged from inpatient care after a behavioral health visit are eligible to get a $25 gift card when they follow-up with their provider within seven days after a behavioral health hospitalization.

Limitations: Members must attend a follow-up visit with a behavioral health provider within seven days following a discharge for mental illness or intentional self-harm diagnoses. Members must be enrolled in the plan to receive the gift card.

If you have received a notice that you have earned a reward for going to your behavioral health follow-up visit, go to bcbstx.com/wellnessrewards to register to receive your gift card reward in the mail. 

BCBSTX offers Find Help, an online community resource where members can search for local community assistance with things such as rent, utilities and food. Members can also use Find Help to apply for assistance to any community-based programs or resources available on the site.

Limitations: Call Member Outreach at 1-877-375-9097 to get the link to the BCBSTX Find Help platform or find the link under the Plan Details, Value Added Services section of the STAR website. All eligible members can complete a self-referral to any community resource available on the platform.

You can find community programs and resources at https://communityservices.bcbstx.com.

Our Blue365 program offers discounts on various pharmacy over the counter (OTC) and health and wellness related services and items. The program is available to all STAR members. You can get access to health and wellness items and offerings at a lower cost, as well as take advantage of some free/no cost services. This VAS excludes benefits covered by STAR.

Limitations: Members must register on the Blue365deals.com site for Texas. The information required for the registration process includes Name, Email, Password, ZIP Code, and alpha prefix. This alpha prefix for STAR members is TXS.