Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core

You can take your health care benefits with you when you are abroad. Through the Blue Cross® Blue Shield® Global® Core program, you have access to doctors and hospitals around the world.

If you are outside the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, you may be able to take advantage of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Program when accessing covered services. When you receive care from providers outside the BlueCard service area, you will typically have to pay the providers and submit the claims yourself to obtain reimbursement for these services.

If you need medical assistance services (including locating a doctor or hospital) outside the BlueCard service area, you should call the service center at 800-810-BLUE or call collect at 1-804-673-1177, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An assistance coordinator, working with a medical professional, will arrange a physician appointment or hospitalization, if necessary.

Inpatient Services

In most cases, if you contact the Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Service Center for assistance, hospitals will not require you to pay for covered inpatient services, except for your cost-share amounts. In such cases, the hospital will submit your claims to the service center to begin claims processing. However, if you paid in full at the time of service, you must submit a claim to receive reimbursement for covered services. You must contact BlueChoice HealthPlan to obtain authorization for non-emergency inpatient services.

Outpatient Services

Physicians, urgent care centers and other outpatient providers located outside the BlueCard service area will typically require you to pay in full at the time of service. You must submit a claim to obtain reimbursement for covered services.

Submitting a Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core Claim

When you pay for covered services outside the BlueCard service area, you must submit a claim to obtain reimbursement. To submit a claim, you should complete a Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core claim form and then send the completed form to the service center to initiate claims processing. If you need assistance with your claim submission, call the service center at 800-810-BLUE.

GeoBlue is the trade name for the international health insurance program of Worldwide Insurance Services (WIS), an independent licensee of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Blue Cross Blue Shield Global is a brand owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.