CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Maryland/District of Columbia/Northern Virginia • Traditional Indemnity, HMO, POS
Under this indemnity prefix, the member has fee-for-service coverage. There is no provider network, no referral requirement, and no primary care physician gatekeeper. Claims are processed based on the plan's fee schedule. While less common than managed care plans, indemnity coverage is still offered by some BCBS companies.
This is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) prefix. HMO plans have stricter routing requirements than PPO plans. Members select a PCP who manages their care and issues referrals. Claims for specialist services should include the referral number. Out-of-network claims will typically be denied unless emergency criteria are met.
Under this POS prefix, the member can access care both in-network and out-of-network, with cost-sharing that varies based on how the care is accessed. In-network care coordinated through the member's PCP has the lowest out-of-pocket cost. Include referral documentation when billing at the in-network benefit level.
Independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association serving Maryland, District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.