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Category: General Information
Know Before You Go – CostAdvisor Tool
When it comes to healthcare, it’s hard to know if you are paying a fair price.
That’s why Blue Cross of Idaho gives you access to CostAdvisor – a tool that lets you see and compare physician, hospital and other healthcare costs in your area and based on your specific plan and network before you make appointments.
CostAdvisor uses historic claims data to provide you an estimate of what your insurance covers and what you may pay out-of-pocket. The more specific you are in your search, the more helpful the results will be. If you search “laminectomy” instead of “back surgery,” you’ll see better search results.
If you find a facility that fits your budget but a doctor is not listed, your primary care physician can help you find a provider who performs the procedure at that facility.
Now you can know before you go!
ALREADY REGISTERED
Visit bcidaho.com/knowbeforeyougo and log into your member account.
Select Estimate Your Costs Now. A new tab will open in your web browser and you’ll see a snapshot of savings opportunities, or you can begin estimating costs for procedures and services that are important to you.
NEED TO REGISTER
Registering is easy if you don’t have an account. All you need is your Blue Cross of Idaho member ID card.
Visit members.bcidaho.com and select Register from the top navigation bar.
Once you complete the registration process, you will be redirected to the Blue Cross of Idaho members homepage. Simply choose CostAdvisor from the right hand menu to start estimating costs!
Start Saving Now!
An Ounce of Prevention this Year
Remember the old saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? This particularly rings true when it comes to preventive health care. Maintaining or improving your health is important – and a focus on regular preventive care, along with following the advice of your doctor, can help you stay healthy.
Did you know that there is no cost to enrolled members for listed preventive, screening and immunization services if you use an In-Network provider?
Annual adult preventive visits include physical exams and screenings such as blood glucose and cholesterol. Preventive services for children include routine and scheduled well-baby and well-child examinations.
Details about those preventive services that are covered by your medical plan at 100% and other services subject to co-pays and cost-sharing are available on the ‘Medical’ tab of the Office of Group Insurance website. Select and view the Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) or plan contract for the plan type in which you are enrolled. You can also call customer service at the number on the back of your ID card for assistance.
Take advantage of this great benefit and schedule a preventive health care visit with your doctor today!
The greatest wealth is health. ~ Virgil
Do you need help finding a doctor? Log in to the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal to utilize the Find a Provider tool to locate an In-Network provider near you.
The Office of Group Insurance is committed to providing employees with details about the benefits available through the group insurance program. Visit the OGI website, https://ogi.idaho.gov, for resources and links to helpful benefit information.
Member Identity Protection Services
In today’s high-tech world, it’s critical to keep a vigilant watch on your personal and financial data. Blue Cross of Idaho, through its BlueCross BlueShield Association, is helping to assist members with that effort.
Blue Cross of Idaho has partnered with AllClear ID to offer enrolled members and their families identity protection services at NO COST to the member or the plan.
Members can log into the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal and click on the AllClear ID logo.
It’s important to protect what’s most valuable to you, especially your health, family and home. This is an added layer of protection for your medical history, bank account and credit cards.
*Please carefully read all communications from AllClear ID.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com. In addition to finding the link to enroll in the AllClear ID protection services, the member portal also allows you to view plan information, explanation of benefits (EOB) documents, search for network providers and so much more.
Questions? Contact the Office of Group Insurance in person, by telephone or email.
OGI has a new office!
To provide better service to state employees, retirees and agencies, the Office of Group Insurance (OGI) has moved its offices to the Len B. Jordan Building at 650 W. State Street, Suite 145 in downtown Boise, ID. The office is located one block north of the Capitol Building.
Visitor parking is available for up to three (3) hours at the University of Idaho Law Library building (Old Ada County Courthouse) at the corner of 5th Street and State Street. Please look for designated visitor parking areas.
Keep an eye on the OGI website, ogi.idaho.gov, for the latest information about benefits, plan details and available services.
For questions, you are welcome to contact the Office of Group Insurance by phone, email or in-person.
Do You Know Your EAP?
We all handle stress, anxiety, grief, surprises, home conflicts in different ways and an Employee Assistance Program or EAP can provide valuable tools to help any individual navigate those situations in a healthy and productive way.
An EAP benefit is included in each of the State’s medical plans and designed to nurture a culture that supports an individual’s ability to care of themselves while balancing work, kids, parents, finances, etc. Benefit eligible employees and their dependents may each receive 1 to 5 visits per person per plan year with no copayment required.
here is how you can get started:
Watch the brief video tutorial on the Counseling page of the OGI website to learn more about how an EAP works.
Bookmark ComPsych’s GuidanceResources® in your favorite browser and create a login that is unique to you.
Use the “Ask a Guidance Consultant” feature on the GuidanceResources® homepage to receive answers to non-emergency emotional health questions.
Call 877.427.2327 to speak with a counseling professional who can guide you to the appropriate services.
View Discounts and Offers including EstateGuidance® – a self-guided online will and testament creation tool.
Keep an eye out for the new posters in your office and pick up an informational wallet card from your human resource office or request a card from the Office of Group Insurance.
By caring for ourselves, we can be at our best while we are at work and in other areas of our lives.
Blue Cross of Idaho contracts with ComPysch’s GuidanceResources® Worldwide to provide the EAP benefit.
Who you gonna call…about your benefits?
Did you know that if you participate in the State of Idaho Group Insurance Program phone numbers to reach Customer Service for your medical and dental coverages, vision and prescription drug benefits, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are as close as your wallet or purse?
Printed on the back of every Blue Cross of Idaho member ID card are local and toll-free numbers to contact your carrier for inquiries about coverage, verify claim status, set up an appointment with a counselor and more.
Lost your Member ID card? You can view or request a new ID card by logging in to your Blue Cross of Idaho Member Account, https://members.bcidaho.com, and select “Need your ID card?” from the center section of the page.
Members can also download the Blue Cross of Idaho Mobile App for Apple or Android devices and view member ID cards for you and your dependents.
The Office of Group Insurance and Blue Cross of Idaho have provided a variety of ways for you to access your information for those circumstances where you need it most.
You may also contact the Office of Group Insurance by phone, email or through the website with questions about the benefits administered by our office.
Life Events – Where do I start?
When life circumstances change they tend to all change at once. That’s why the Office of Group 
Insurance (OGI) designed this website to help employees navigate the most commonly asked about events and questions related to medical, dental and life insurance coverages.
The Life Events page is the best place to start if you aren’t sure where you need to go or what you need to do regarding your insurance benefits if you are: having a baby, planning for retirement, transferring jobs from one state agency to another, and MORE!
Don’t see a particular life event linked on our page? Contact the OGI team and we will gladly walk you through the process for applicable insurance coverages.
OGI’s goal is to ensure that employees have access to resources so that when life happens employees can make the best decisions for themselves and their families. 
The OGI website also has a link on the Life Events page for the HR offices to help agencies as they help employees.
Using your Vision Benefit
Each active employee medical plan includes a Vision Benefit. Blue Cross of Idaho contracts with Vision Service Plan (VSP) to administer this benefit.
Participants can choose a VSP network provider or non-network vision care provider; the benefit payable is identical, the difference is the method in which claims are submitted.
A VSP network provider should be able to submit the claim to VSP directly, where a non-network vision care provider may require payment in full from you at the time of service and then it’s up to you to self-submit your claim to VSP for reimbursement of the benefit amount.
Vision care providers may offer additional discounts to patients on products and services, but the benefit paid by the State’s plan under the Vision Benefit does not change.
For detailed information about your Vision Benefit, view the medical plan contracts or visit the VSP website where you can set up an account to submit your claim, www.vsp.com.
You are also welcome to contact the Office of Group Insurance with any questions.
What Do You Think?
As you’ve noticed-OGI launched a new website! We hope this website serves as a resource for employees to better understand their comprehensive benefits and utilize them to support their health and well-being.
Let us know how you like the website, what your favorite area is, and if we can make any improvements. Contact us here to share your feedback.
New Benefit Summary Document
Looking for a quick summary of the comprehensive benefits afforded to state employees? Check out the NEW Benefit Summary document – Benefits at a Glance – on the OGI website.
Benefits at a Glance is a great resource for new and existing employees to see “at a glance” the medical and dental insurance coverages as well as the life insurance, disability coverage and flexible spending accounts administered through the Office of Group Insurance.
Detailed benefits, plan coverage, eligibility, premiums and more can be found on the website under Benefits & Plans.