Hurricane Information

Updated 9/23/2008

Some Medical, Pharmacy Requirements Lifted

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and HMO Louisiana have temporarily lifted some medical and pharmacy policy requirements for members in the following 43 parishes:

Acadia Evangeline Orleans St. Martin 
Allen Franklin Plaquemines St. Mary
Ascension Grant Pointe Coupee St. Tammany
Assumption Iberia Rapides Tangipahoa
Avoyelles Iberville Sabine Terrebonne 
Beauregard Jefferson St. Bernard  Vermilion
Calcasieu  Jefferson Davis St. Charles Vernon
Cameron Lafayette St. Helena Washington
Catahoula Lafourche  St. James  West Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Lasalle St. John the Baptist West Feliciana
East Feliciana Livingston St. Landry

The following temporary changes for affected members are effective Saturday, August 30, 2008, through Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008:

  • Receive in-network benefits for care out of their network. This means Blue Cross and HMO Louisiana customers may visit any doctor or hospital for covered medical services – even if they are not part of the Blue Cross network.
  • Refill prescriptions early, even if they are not due to be filled for 30 days.
  • Receive treatment covered under their plan without prior authorization.
  • These special provisions also apply to members of the Blue Cross Federal Employee Program (FEP).
  • View list of affected ZIP codes provided by the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Please note that this does not suspend the application of any exclusions in the subscriber's policy, such as those for pre-existing conditions, investigational services, or other policy limitations.


Lost Medications, Mail-Order Concerns 

If you have lost your medications or cannot receive your mail-order medications because you are relocated, call our pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, Inc., at the number listed on your ID card or toll-free at 1.866.781.7533.  This phone line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Members of the Federal Employee Program (FEP) who need assistance with lost or mail-order medications should call Caremark at 1.800.624.5060. Representatives are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Contacting Blue Cross

  • Use our secure online form
  • FEP members should go to http://www.fepblue.org/  
  • Our Baton Rouge district office has relocated to our corporate headquarters, Customer Center
  • All other district offices are open and following regular business hours

Other Post-Hurricane Tips

  • Share your temporary address with Blue Cross if you will be away from home for an extended time. You can change your address using AccessBlue.*
  • You can also login to AccessBlue Customer Tools to:
    • Create a Personal Health Record for you and your family. This secure, password-protected online record is available 24/7, wherever you are
    • Print a copy of your Blue Health Record, a record based on your Blue Cross claims for the last three years that includes:      
      • Immunization history
      • Preventive treatments
      • Pharmacy information 
    • Review your latest claims information  
    • Register and login from the AccessBlue box found on the upper right of every BCBSLA.com webpage

      *Not all AccessBlue services available to all members
  • Keep with you copies of your important healthcare documents, including your insurance contact information and Blue Cross ID card
     
  • Complete an authorized delegate form for all covered family members age 18 or older
  • If you are going to be in another part of Louisiana for an extended time, visit HealthcareFacts.org to learn more about hospitals in Louisiana
  • Visit this webpage frequently for the latest updates on how Blue Cross is responding to help 

Additional Resources

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