At Blue Advantage, we know that getting sick or injured doesn’t always happen during office hours, so we want you to know how to get care quickly when you need it.
We also want to make it as easy as possible for you to take the medications you need to get and stay healthy. This information will help you find the right care at the right time, while helping you save time and money.
Online Doctor Visits
Have a primary care visit online 24/7 with a computer, smartphone, tablet or any device with internet and a camera.
BlueCare is faster and easier than going to an ER or urgent care for minor health needs.
Use BlueCare for:
Sinus infections
Minor stomach ailments
Allergies
Pink eye
Cough/cold
Flu symptoms
Rashes
Bladder infections
BlueCare is $0 for Blue Advantage members. Click the button below or download the BlueCare (one word) app on your device to get started.
Your primary care provider works with you to manage your health and make sure you get the care you need.
Unless you have an emergency, you should start with your primary care provider for your health concerns.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when seeing a primary care provider:
Schedule an annual wellness visit to review and personalize your wellness and prevention plan.
Ask the primary care provider’s office what times are less busy. Pro Tip: You may have a shorter wait earlier in the day before things start backing up.
We know that some topics can be sensitive to talk about – even with your doctor. Don’t hesitate to discuss bladder issues or avoiding the risk of falling, or any such topic that is on your mind. Pro Tip: Bring a list of any questions you have with you so that you don’t forget to ask.
If you have any tests done, ask the provider when to expect results and if you should call to get those results. Pro Tip: Ask if there is an option to get your results online, which may be quicker.
Make it a priority to discuss with your primary care provider the benefits of getting a flu shot each fall.
Bring a list of your medications, including any vitamins, supplements or over-the-counter medicines you take. Pro Tip: Keep track of any side effects and remember to discuss it with your doctor. Your doctor needs to know your experience with your medication to help make the right medication choice for you.
Specialist
Sometimes your primary care provider may want you to see another provider for certain conditions.
With Blue Advantage, you can see a specialist without a referral.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when seeing a specialist:
If your primary care provider says you need to see a specialist, ask if their office will make the appointment for you.
If you don’t understand why you need to see a specialist, ask your primary care provider to explain it to you. Primary care provider offices typically coordinate with multiple specialist offices to provide patients with a seamless care management experience.
Remember that doctors often run behind their schedule as the day goes on. Pro Tip: Try to get an appointment in the first half of the day and make sure you don’t have anything else critical planned for the day.
Consider bringing a friend or family member to the appointment to help you take notes on what the specialist tells you.
If you have any tests done, ask the provider when to expect results and if you should call to get those results. Some test results are ready in less than a couple of hours, but some test results can take up to a couple of weeks. Pro Tip: Don’t keep yourself waiting. Ask if there is an option to get your results online, which may be quicker.
Urgent Care
For issues that aren’t emergencies, and when you can’t see your primary care provider, you may want to go to an urgent care center.
This can be a good option when you need care outside of your provider’s office hours.
Here are some tips for visiting an urgent care center:
Be prepared to wait. Urgent care centers often have longer wait times than your primary care provider. Pro Tip: Call ahead to see if you can make an appointment or to check on wait times.
If you are unsure if the urgent care center can handle your issue, you can call ahead to check. They may advise you to go to an emergency facility, which can save you a lot of time.
The urgent care center may recommend you follow up with your primary care provider on any care provided. It is important that you do this. To manage your care, your primary care provider needs to stay informed of any recent health changes.
Take your Blue Advantage ID card with you. Unlike your primary care provider’s office, an urgent care center may not have your insurance information on file if this is your first visit. It’s easy to forget this when you’re sick.
Urgent care centers don’t know your exact health history. Pro Tip: To be sure you get help with managing care, take a list of your current medications with you. Be prepared to discuss your current medical conditions and any recent medical procedures.
Emergency Room
Some conditions ARE emergencies and require immediate attention.
These conditions include:
Signs of a heart attack – including but not limited to crushing or ongoing chest pain – that last two minutes or longer
Signs of stroke, like sudden numbness in any extremity
Severe shortness of breath
Bleeding that won’t stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
Deformed or severed digit(s) or limb(s)
Complicated fractures
Major injury such as head injury
Coughing up or vomiting blood
Suicidal or homicidal feelings
Major burns or electric shock
Sudden inability to walk
Here are some tips for visiting an emergency room:
If at all possible, do not drive yourself to the emergency room. Get a friend or family member to drive you or call 911.
If you are suffering an emergency, then you will get the immediate care you need. If not, you will most likely have to wait. Expect a longer wait time than you would have at either your primary care provider or an urgent care center. Be prepared to provide as much information as you can about your medical condition, medications and allergies.
If you have tests done, ask for copies of the test results and if they will be sent to your primary care provider.
Make sure to follow up with your primary care provider on any treatment you receive. To manage your care, your primary care provider needs to stay informed of any recent health changes.
Pharmacy
Taking your medication regularly as directed by your provider makes such a great difference in your health and wellness. We can help improve your experience when filling prescriptions.
Here are some tips for getting medications on your plan:
Check to see if your medicine is covered on your plan. View the Formulary or call the number on the back of your ID card.
Some medications may need approval or must meet certain requirements before they can be filled. These restrictions are noted in the formulary and may include prior authorization, step therapy, and/or quantity limits.
It may take more time to fill these prescriptions because your provider will need to give us information to review.
Want to get your medications by mail? Most, but not all, drugs can be filled as a three-month supply or by mail order. You may want to have a 30-day supply of your prescriptions on hand before transferring to mail order so you don’t run out.
Choose one of these ways to sign up:
Call Express Scripts Pharmacy at 1-800-282-2881 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). TTY users should call 1-800-759-1089
*Express Scripts is an independent company that serves as the pharmacy benefit manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.
We're always happy to help!
Just a Phone Call Away
Reach out to us for help or any questions you may have about your health care coverage and plan benefits.
Call us at: 1-866-508-7145 (TTY 711). Our phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week from October - March and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday - Friday from April - September
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