California • Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Traditional Indemnity
This prefix is associated with Medicare Advantage. MA plans combine hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) coverage, and many include prescription drug coverage (Part D). When billing, confirm whether the plan uses the same payer ID for MA claims as for commercial claims, as many BCBS companies use separate IDs.
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.
This is a traditional indemnity prefix. Unlike managed care plans (HMO, PPO, EPO), indemnity plans do not use provider networks. There are no referral requirements and no restrictions on which providers the member can see. Submit claims to the payer listed above for reimbursement at the plan's allowed rate.
Nonprofit health plan providing 6 million Californians with affordable healthcare coverage including HMO, PPO, dental, and vision plans for individuals, families, and employers.