Category: Resources

The Other Annual Checkup – Mental & Emotional Health

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Everyone knows that you should go to the doctor, dentist and optometrist every year for checkups, but what about a checkup for your mental and emotional well-being?

We all deal with tough times, but even happy events like a new job, a marriage, or a new baby can add stress. That is when taking time for a session, or two, or three, with a counselor, either in-person or virtually, might help you navigate new or persistent challenges in your life and decrease your stress or anxiety.

As a department, agency or school district who participates in the state of Idaho’s health plan, all benefit-eligible employees and their dependents have access to an Employee Assistance Program, often referred to as “EAP”. Visit the Office of Group Insurance Counseling webpage, ogi.idaho.gov/counseling/, to learn about all of the benefits available with your EAP, now administered by BPA Health, and how to get started.

Worried about confidentiality? Neither the Office of Group Insurance nor your agency receive any information about your inquiries or your sessions with the counselor.

This benefit is here for you, in good times and bad, to help you stay at your best.

It’s not too late to get nicotine-free in 2022!

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How are those 2022 New Year’s resolutions going? Did you start the year on a mission to quit smoking or using other tobacco products but somewhere along the way you got sidetracked?

Now is a great time to revisit those resolutions because nicotine cessation aids are covered at 100% under the preventive provisions of the State’s health plan!

Nicotine cessation products can be used to help members quit tobacco and nicotine use. These include over the counter quit aids like patches, gum and lozenges, and tobacco cessation drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor. Details about this benefit can be found in each plan document posted on the Medical page.

Health Benefits of Quitting:

  • Lowered risk of lung cancer and many other types of cancer.
  • Reduced risk for disease and early death. While the health benefits are greater for people who stop at earlier ages, there are benefits at any age. You are never too old to quit.
  • Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the blood vessels in outside your heart).

Source: cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/quitting

Members enrolled in the State’s health plan can also access a 12-week tobacco cessation workshop in the WellConnected section of the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal, https://members.bcidaho.com. Members can also call the customer service number on the back of their member ID card for more information about programs and quit aids.

Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID card handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.

The Office of Group Insurance is required to make available to all members the annual compliance notices. These notices are posted on the right hand column of the OGI homepage at: https://ogi.idaho.gov in the section called Required Notices and Information.

Protect Your Identity Now at No Cost

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In today’s high-tech world, it’s critical to keep a vigilant watch on your personal and financial data. The state of Idaho is helping to assist members enrolled in the medical plan with that effort.

Experian IdentityWorks offers members enrolled in the State’s health plan and their families identity protection services at NO COST to the member.

It’s important to protect what’s most valuable to you, especially your health, family and home. This is an added layer of protection.

Members enrolled in the health plan should visit the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal and look for the Experian logo at the bottom of the homepage once you are logged in.

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 IdentityWorks 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.

Quick and convenient ways to locate a medical or dental provider

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Having a regular doctor – also called primary care provider or PCP – and dentist not only helps you get healthy but stay healthy. A PCP helps you navigate all of your healthcare needs, from big to small. They will review your medical records and medications, discuss your personal medical history as well as your family members’, and conduct general exams. Follow-up visits can be centered on specific healthcare goals such as strategies to improve or manage wellness or to treat an illness. Need more extensive care than your PCP provides? A PCP can also help coordinate care with specialists as well.

Where and when to get care [PDF]

Here are a few ways to find in-network care:

icon-_0013_blue-checkbox All this information at your fingertips too!!!

Download the Blue Cross of Idaho Member App for Apple or Android devices

  • Get your member ID card: Show and fax your member ID card whenever you get care
  • Find care: Find in-network doctors, clinics, hospitals and urgent care
  • Keep track of your plan: View claims for everyone on your plan and see how close you are to meeting your deductible for the year
  • You can also connect to the Blue Cross of Idaho Rx website from the member app to price prescription drugs and find in-network pharmacies

Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.

The 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.

ID Card ImageLost 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.

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.