BCBS Federal Employee Program International Coverage Explained

The BCBS Federal Employee Program offers international coverage to federal employees, which can be a lifesaver when traveling abroad. This coverage is available to employees who are enrolled in the program.

The program's international coverage includes emergency medical evacuation, which can be a huge relief if you're traveling in a remote area with limited medical facilities. This benefit can transport you to a medical facility that can provide the care you need.

BCBS Federal Employee Program international coverage also includes medical evacuation to the nearest medical facility, which is often less expensive than emergency medical evacuation. This can help keep your medical costs down while still getting the care you need.

In some cases, the program may also cover the cost of a companion to accompany you on medical evacuation, which can be a huge help for loved ones.

You're covered worldwide with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, but keep in mind that the FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program (MPDP) is only available to residents of the U.S. or a U.S. territory.

Most overseas providers require payment up front, but some plans pay overseas providers at the Preferred Providers benefit level. You'll likely have to pay the difference between the plan payment and the actual charge.

You can review our list of FAQs for more information about our overseas coverage.

You're covered worldwide with your Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. Under all three coverage options, you pay the difference between their payment and the amount billed, in addition to your cost share amounts.

You can access medical care in over 200 countries and territories. The Overseas Assistance Center, GeoBlue, can even arrange direct billing with your provider in some cases.

Not all plans cover you outside of the US, though. The FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program, for example, is only available to residents of the US or a US territory and doesn't work outside of the country.

If you need medical care while abroad, you might be able to find participating hospitals in your area that will work with your FEHB plan. However, most international providers require upfront payments.

You can find a list of participating providers through your MyBlue account, which also includes additional provider information such as address, phone number, and specialty.

If you're planning to live overseas, you'll want to know about the limitations of your health insurance coverage. Most HMO plans won't be very helpful if you're living outside of the US.

You should not be enrolled in an HMO if you're living overseas, except in rare cases where the overseas location is part of the HMO's service area, such as Guam.

Some plans provide assistance in locating medical providers overseas or have participating hospitals and other providers. This can be a huge help when you're trying to find quality care in a foreign country.

Most overseas providers require payment upfront, so be prepared to pay out of pocket for medical expenses. Some plans may pay providers at the Preferred Providers benefit level, but you'll likely need to cover the difference.

Some plans provide benefits for professional medical evacuation to the nearest hospital suited to provide treatment, which is a lifesaver in emergency situations. Air or sea evacuation may be covered if emergency ground transportation is not available.

Here are some key points to keep in mind when it comes to overseas coverage:

Prescription drugs may be available through a plan's Mail Order Pharmacy benefit, but you may need to have an address with a Zip Code, such as an APO and FPO address or in US territories.

The BCBS Federal Employee Program offers international coverage to its members, allowing them to receive medical care while traveling abroad. This coverage is available to eligible employees and their families.

The program provides access to a network of healthcare providers in over 190 countries, including doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. You can find a list of in-network providers on the BCBS website.

To be eligible for international coverage, you must be an active employee or a retiree of a participating federal agency. You can check your eligibility on the BCBS website or by contacting their customer service team.

In-network care is covered at 80% of the billed amount for most services, with the remaining 20% due out-of-pocket. You can review the specific coverage details and any out-of-pocket costs on the BCBS website.

As a federal employee, you're likely curious about the benefits and plans available to you through the BCBS Federal Employee Program.

You can compare overseas benefits for FEP Blue Focus, FEP Blue Basic, and FEP Blue Standard.

If you're looking for a plan that covers you abroad, FEP Blue Focus, FEP Blue Basic, and FEP Blue Standard are all options to consider.

FEP Blue Focus, FEP Blue Basic, and FEP Blue Standard offer different levels of coverage, so it's worth taking a closer look at each plan to see which one best fits your needs.

Submitting claims while abroad is a breeze with BCBS. You can submit your overseas medical and prescription drug claims online through MyBlue, our secure members-only website.

To speed up processing and claims payment, it's a good idea to use MyBlue. This way, you can access your personal health information from anywhere.

If you prefer to submit claims by mail or fax, you can use the forms provided on the website, including the Overseas Medical Claim Form and Retail Prescription Drug Overseas Claim Form. Detailed instructions are included on each form.

Submitting a claim is a straightforward process. You can submit your overseas medical and prescription drug claims online through MyBlue, our secure members-only website, for faster processing and claims payment.

To submit a claim online, you'll need to access your personal health information through MyBlue. This way, you can access your information from anywhere.

If you prefer to submit your claim by mail or fax, you can use the forms provided. These forms include the Overseas Medical Claim Form and the Retail Prescription Drug Overseas Claim Form, which come with detailed instructions.

Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure your claim is processed correctly.

If you're traveling outside the U.S., you can use your pharmacy coverage, but you'll need to pay for prescriptions out-of-pocket and submit receipts and a claim form to get reimbursed.

The FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program isn't available outside the U.S., so you can't purchase prescription drugs and get reimbursed for them overseas.

You can download and submit a completed claim form if you need to submit a claim for prescription drugs purchased in the U.S.

If you take a maintenance medication and are going overseas for an extended period, you might be eligible for an extended filling of your prescription, but this requires a 12-month prescription from your doctor and can't be used for controlled substances.

You can contact the Pharmacy Program at 1-800-624-5060 to learn more about this option.

Compare overseas prescription drug costs for our three plan options to see which one works best for you.

If you're a federal employee with international coverage through BCBS, there are some important things to know. Most overseas providers require payment "up front".

You should not be enrolled in an HMO if you're living overseas, except in specific cases like Guam. This is because HMOs typically don't cover international care.

If you do need to file a claim while overseas, check your plan brochure for information on Section 7. This will guide you through the process.

Some plans pay overseas providers at the Preferred Providers benefit level, but you'll likely have to pay the difference between the plan payment and the actual charge.

You may need to provide an English translation of the bill and currency conversion information. Check your plan to see what's required.

Most plans don't require precertification for inpatient hospitalization and other procedures outside of the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Here are some services that may be covered while abroad: