BAO

BCBS Prefix BAO

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

South Dakota/Iowa • HDHP, POS, Medicaid Managed Care

Billing essentials

Provider phone
(800) 552-3993
Electronic payer ID
88848
Claims mailing address
P.O. Box 14509, Des Moines, IA 50306-3509
Timely filing limit
180 daysCompare all plans
Prior authorization phone
(800) 552-3993
Provider website
https://www.wellmark.com

Coverage under prefix BAO

HDHP

This is a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) prefix. These plans have minimum deductible thresholds set by the IRS. Members often use HSA funds to cover out-of-pocket costs. The plan's claims processing and payer ID are the same as the standard plan, but expect higher patient responsibility amounts on remittance.

POS

POS coverage under this prefix operates on a tiered system. Tier 1 (in-network with referral) provides the highest coverage. Tier 2 (in-network without referral) provides moderate coverage. Tier 3 (out-of-network) provides the lowest coverage. Verify which tier applies before submitting the claim.

Medicaid

This prefix is associated with Medicaid managed care. When a BCBS plan administers Medicaid, the claims process may differ from commercial coverage: different payer ID, different claims address, different prior authorization rules, and different timely filing limits. Always verify Medicaid-specific details before submitting.

About Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Health insurance company serving Iowa and South Dakota with commercial and other plans.