Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Privacy Notice

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana along with HMO Louisiana, Inc. and Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc., know that our customers expect us to keep their personal and financial information safe and private.

This notice will tell you about how we get, use, protect and share your personal information. We will share this with you when you become our customer and purchase certain insurance products. If we update this notice in the future, we will share the new version with you.

What do we collect and how do we get it?

We collect your name, address, Social Security number, health and financial information. We get these facts from forms you fill out, phone calls or in person. We may get information from your claims, payment history and other records. We may also get information about you from your agent, companies we own and other companies.

What do we share and whom do we share it with?

We may share your information with companies we own, your agent, and companies or financial institutions that we do business with to serve you. Examples include businesses we have hired to help us with marketing, benefit administration and claims processing. We may share your information after you are no longer our customer. We may also share your information as permitted or required by law.

How do we keep your information safe?

Our employees who need your information to serve you are the only ones who can get to it. We keep physical, electronic and procedural safeguards in place that follow all laws to protect your information.

We share this information with you to meet the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (effective July 1, 2001; revised February 1, 2020). To learn more about our privacy practices and policies, please read the Summary of Privacy Practices Notice.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana [BCBSLA] and its subsidiaries are committed to protecting the information you provide to us over the phone, in person or through the mail. We also respect the privacy of all individuals who visit our website. This is how we handle information we learn about you from your visit to our website:

If you visit our site to read or download information:

BCBSLA routinely gathers data on website usage, such as how many people visit the site, the sections they visit, what time they visit, how long they stay, etc. Please know that site visitor data is collected on an aggregate, anonymous basis. That means no personal information is associated with this data unless you voluntarily provide it to us.

We collect and store the following information: the name of the domain from which you access the Internet [for example, yahoo.com if you are connecting from a Yahoo account]; the browser version from which you access our site; the date and time you access our site; and the Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to our site. We use this information to measure the number of visitors to different sections of our site and to help us make our site more useful to visitors.

If you access some sections of our website (for example, if you apply for a job) we use COOKIES. A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a user’s computer for record-keeping purposes. We use cookies on our sites to identify and track visitors, their usage of our websites, and their website access preferences across multiple requests and visits. We link the information we store in cookies to personally identifiable information you submit while on our site.

We use both session ID cookies and persistent cookies. A session ID cookie expires when you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains on your hard drive for an extended period of time. You can remove persistent cookies by following directions provided in your Internet browser’s “help” directory. If you reject cookies, you may still use our site, but the functionality of some areas of our site will be limited.

We understand the importance of protecting children's privacy, especially in an Internet environment. It is our policy never to knowingly collect or maintain information from children by way of the Internet. We also do not collect information for distribution to third parties via your visit to our website.

If you identify yourself by sending an E-mail:

WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TRANSMITTED TO US BY E-MAIL.

Please use your own best judgment when sending information via the Internet to an e-mail address. E-mail sent via the Internet may pass through private and public networks with varying levels of security. Some networks may have taken steps to maintain the security of e-mail transmissions while others have not, thereby compromising the privacy and integrity of your e-mail. An e-mail may be copied, altered or destroyed by anyone who is able to access it.

If you have personal or confidential information to relay to our company, please call the appropriate customer service phone number that you will find on our Member Services Contact Us section.

If you send us e-mail to ask a question, we will use the information you provide to answer your request. If you do provide personal information, such as an e-mail address, telephone or fax number, or other identifying information, we will not disclose it to third parties except as provided in our Privacy Notice, above. We will preserve the content of your e-mail, your e-mail address and our response so that we can efficiently respond to questions you might have. We also do this in an effort to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

If you respond to an online survey or complete an online form:

You may have an opportunity to provide information to us through online surveys and forms. We use this information to better understand health care needs and to provide quality products, service and other opportunities.

BCBSLA wants your visit to our website to be informative and enjoyable. We plan to use any information we obtain from you to help us continually improve the content, functionality and overall usefulness of our website.

Updates to this Privacy Notice:

We recognize and respect your desire for privacy when it comes to your personal and health care affairs. We protect online information according to established company security standards and practices, and we continually evaluate new technologies for safeguarding information.

Evolving technology will continue to provide us with new and better ways to collect and use information so that we may better serve your health coverage needs. We may revise or update this BCBSLA Privacy Notice in the future to reflect these technological advances, and we encourage you to return to this page from time to time for any updates.

Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana,
Incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company
An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Terms and Conditions of Use

PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE PRIOR TO USING THIS WEBSITE

This website is owned and operated by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) and its subsidiaries, HMO Louisiana, Inc. and Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc., are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Our insurance products and services are offered by BCBSLA or one or more of its subsidiaries. Medical and dental coverage is provided by BCBSLA and HMO Louisiana, Inc. Life insurance coverage is provided by Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc.

All website users (“you”, “your” and “they”) represent and warrant that they are at least 18 years of age and that they possess the legal right and ability to agree to these Terms and Conditions of Use and to use this website in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. Use of this BCBSLA website is conditioned on the acceptance, without modification, of all Terms and Conditions of this Agreement (defined as the Terms and Conditions). By using this website, you represent that you have read and understand the Terms and Conditions and that you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions as set forth below.

BCBSLA reserves the right at its discretion to modify the Terms and Conditions under which this website is offered. Use of this website after the posting of any such modification constitutes your agreement to be bound by the Terms and Conditions as modified.

All material (“Materials”) displayed or transmitted on this website, including but not limited to text, photographs, images, illustrations, video clips, audio clips, and graphics are owned by BCBSLA or by third parties with their permission, and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademarks, service marks, and other proprietary rights, and various state and federal laws.

Except as provided in this Agreement, you may not copy, reproduce, publish, transmit, transfer, sell, rent, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, repost, perform, display, or in any way commercially exploit the Materials carried on this Web site, nor may you infringe upon any of the copyrights or other intellectual property rights contained in the Materials. You may not remove or alter, nor cause to be removed or altered, any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices or visual marks and logos from the Materials.

You acquire no rights or license whatsoever in the Materials other than the limited rights to use the website in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. Any of the Materials accessed or downloaded from this website must be accessed or downloaded in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of use specified in this Agreement. BCBSLA reserves any rights not expressly granted under these Terms and Conditions of use.

BCBSLA reserves the right to modify, update, suspend, discontinue, or restrict the use of or access to this website or any portion of this website, at any time and without notice or liability.

You are liable to BCBSLA for any and all claims, actions, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including attorney fees) if you upload anything to this website that belongs to anyone else, is copyrighted, trademarked or infringes upon another party’s intellectual property rights.

You are not authorized to link to this website without the specific written permission of BCBSLA. Further, No portion of this website may be “included into” or “framed into” another website or online presence without the express, written permission of BCBSLA.

Any unauthorized use of the information on this website is prohibited. Modification of the BCBSLA content or use of the content for any unauthorized purpose is a violation of BCBSLA copyright, service marks and other proprietary rights.

If you do not agree with the Terms and Conditions of this website, detailed both above and below, and do not wish to be bound by them, please do not use this website or download any Materials from this website.

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE:

The content of this website is provided as general information only and is not medical, legal, or health plan purchasing advice. The information on this website is not designed to replace health care or medical advice from a health care professional. All questions about individual care and treatment should be referred to your health care provider.

BCBSLA has designed this website to provide information to you regarding our products and services in general. Nothing contained on this website should be construed as medical advice, medical opinion, diagnosis or treatment.

LEGAL/JURISDICTION:

BCBSLA primarily serves individuals residing in Louisiana and employers whose principal place of business is in Louisiana. Through its association with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, BCBSLA also serves the Louisiana employees of non-Louisiana based employers.

BCBSLA and its subsidiaries licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association are licensed to underwrite health, dental and life coverage in the state of Louisiana only and do not engage in the business of insurance outside Louisiana except as may be permitted by law. Except as described otherwise, all materials in the BCBSLA website are made available only to provide information about BCBSLA. BCBSLA controls and operates this website from its headquarters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and makes no representation that these materials are appropriate or available for use in other locations. The descriptions of products and services on this website are not intended to constitute offers to sell or solicitations in connection with any product or services, and not all products and services are available in all areas to all persons. Services and products are subject to applicable laws and regulations. If you are interested in a particular product or service, you should contact Customer Service to obtain additional information about a product or service, or to speak with an agent.

By accessing, transmitting, using, or viewing any information on this website, you irrevocably agree to be subject to personal jurisdiction in the state of Louisiana. Any claim or dispute arising out of accessing, transmitting, using, or viewing any information on this website shall be exclusively venued in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, and shall be exclusively governed by the laws of the state of Louisiana, without regards to any conflicts of law.

If any of the provisions of these Terms and Condition of Use are held to be not enforceable by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, then such provisions shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

BCBSLA’s failure to act with respect to a breach by you or others of these Terms and Conditions of Use does not waive BCBSLA’s right to act with respect to subsequent or similar breaches. These Terms and Conditions of Use, specified above and below, set forth the entire understanding and Agreement between BCBSLA and you with respect to the website, its uses and services.

DISCLAIMER:

Use of this website is at your own risk. BCBSLA disclaims all warranties, express and implied.

Information contained on this website is furnished free of charge and for informational purposes only. Although we may update the content of this website from time to time, information changes rapidly. BCBSLA has no obligation to update the information.

Therefore, some of the information and graphics on this website may contain inaccuracies, typographical errors or out-of-date information. Your use of this website and the information and graphics contained on this website are at your own risk. BCBSLA does NOT warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of this website or any of the information or graphics contained on this website. BCBSLA ASSUMES NO RESPONSBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE OR OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REFERENCED BY OR LINKED TO THIS WEBSITE. BCBSLA will not be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken by you or anyone else in reliance on materials or information obtained or downloaded from this website, or any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special, or similar damages even if BCBSLA is advised of the possibility of such damages.

BCBSLA does not guarantee continuous, uninterrupted service to this website. Operation of this website may be interfered with by numerous factors outside BCBSLA’s control.

This website and all materials contained on this site, including but not limited to information, graphics, audio, video, software and other data, if any, are provided "as is" without express or implied warranties or guarantees of any kind, including but not limited to any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:

In no event will BCBSLA be liable, whether in tort or contract or under any other legal liability (including strict liability and negligence) for lost profits or revenues, loss or interruption of use, lost or damaged data or security, damages, costs, expenses, or for any economic loss, any indirect, exemplary, special, incidential, consequential or similar damages arising from or relating to viewing, using or accessing this website, even if BCBSLA had been advised of the possibility of such damages. By viewing, using or accessing this website, you agree that the total aggregrate liability of BCBSLA and its subsidiaries arising from use or related to use or viewing of this website shall not exceed one hundred ($100.00) dollars.

LINKS:

Please note that once you leave this website, either by using a link we have provided for your convenience, or by specifying your own destination, BCBSLA accepts no responsibility for the content, products and/or services provided at non-BCBSLA locations. BCBSLA does not regularly review the content of other websites. The links contained on this website do not imply any endorsement or sponsorship of any other website or any of the products or services that may be offered on any other website. BCBSLA does not control, endorse, promote, or have any affiliation with any other website unless expressly stated on this website.

BCBSLA expressly disclaims any responsibility for any third-party websites, which are provided for your convenience on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied.

If you have any questions or comments regarding our Terms and Conditions of Use please contact:

Legal Affairs Department
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
P.O. Box 84656
Baton Rouge, LA 70884-4656

Telephone: 225-295-2294