BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois

The largest health insurance company in the state with over 6.5 million members.

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*BCBSIL Launches NEW Plan Network in 2025*

MyBlue Plus, launching 1/1/2025, will be the new low-cost option for members in the metro Chicago area replacing Blue FocusCare HMO. 

New BCBSIL Plans Effective 2024 (Other than MyBlue Plus)

Plan NameDeductibleMax Out-of-Pocket
Blue Choice Preferred Gold PPO 901$1,000$9,200

 

*Discontinued BCBSIL Plans* 

Discontinued Plan NameDeductibleMax Out-of-Pocket
Blue Choice Preferred Bronze PPO 601$7,500$9,450
Blue FocusCare Bronze 209 (Replaced by MyBlue Plus)$7,400$9,450
Blue FocusCare Silver 210 (Replaced by MyBlue Plus)$2,500$9,450
Blue FocusCare Gold 211 (Replaced by MyBlue Plus)$750$9,450
BlueCare Direct Bronze 410 with Advocate Rx Copays$0$9,450
BlueCare Direct Silver 212 with Advocate Rx Copays$7,500$9,450
BlueCare Direct Gold 409 with Advocate Rx Copays$2,000$9,450

*Renamed BCBSIL Plans: These plans are still active, but have a new name for 2025.

Renamed PlansPlan name in 2025
Blue Choice Preferred Bronze PPO 708Blue Choice Preferred Bronze PPO℠ Standard – Select Rx
Blue Choice Preferred Silver PPO 706Blue Choice Preferred Silver PPO℠ Standard – Select Rx
Blue Choice Preferred Gold PPO 707Blue Choice Preferred Gold PPO℠ Standard – Rx Copays
Blue Precision Bronze HMO 708Blue Precision Bronze HMO℠ Standard – Select Rx Copays
Blue Precision  Silver HMO 706Blue Precision Silver HMO℠ Standard – Select Rx Copays
Blue Precision Gold HMO 707Blue Precision Gold HMO℠ Standard – Rx Copays

Individual Health Insurance Plans

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois is offering 4 different individual plan networks for plans effective January 1st, 2024: Blue Choice Preferred PPO network, Blue Precision HMO network, BlueCare Direct w/ Advocate, or Blue FocusCare plans.

What is the difference between PPO and HMO? 

PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, plans usually carry a higher monthly premium while having access to a larger network of doctors and hospitals to choose from. 

HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, plans usually have lower monthly premiums than PPO’s and may help keep your costs lower and more predictable. A Primary Care Physician (PCP) will coordinate your health care.

Individual / Family Plans

Blue Choice Preferred PPO

Great for those who: 

  • Seek coverage comparable to what is offered by employers
  • Prefers fixed doctor visit copayments
  • Regularly visits a doctor
  • Requires regular prescription medication

Blue Precision HMO

Great for those who:

  • Are willing to have a primary care physician (PCP) coordinate your care
  • Prefers fixed doctor visit copayments
  • Are expecting to have surgery or major services in the near future and want the lowest out of pocket costs
  • Requires regular prescription medication

BlueCare Direct w/ Advocate

Great for those who: 

  • Are willing to have a primary care physician (PCP) coordinate your care
  • Prefers or lives near an Advocate hospital (Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, and Will Counties
  • Are expecting to have surgery or major services in the near future and want the lowest out of pocket costs
  • Requires regular prescription medication

MyBlue Plus POS

Great for those who: 

  • Designed to be an affordable option
  • Offers the highest level of benefits for services provided by a MyBlue Plus POS network provider
  • Offers an out-of-network benefit to provide additional access to care
  • You can elect your primary care provider at the individual provider level

Group / Medicare / Dental

Group

2024 small group plan summaries

Medicare Supplement

BCBSIL Medicare Supplement Plans

Dental

BlueCare Dental PPO

Additional Resources

Provider Finder

PPO Networks

Maternity Benefits

Prescription Resources

Member Discount Program

Contact Info

Why Choose BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois?

Access

  • Health plans on and off exchange in every county
  • Comprehensive, year-round coverage
  • High-quality, efficient networks with focus on preventive care
Affordability
  • Affordable plan options to fit every budget
  • Monthly payments as low as $0 for qualified on-exchange applicants
Stability
  • Serving Illinois communities for 85 years.
  • In the nine years of ACA open enrollment, BCBSIL has been proud to offer multiple qualified health plans in every county across Illinois.
Helpful Resources 24/7
  • Virtual Visits for Blue Choice Preferred PPO members
  • 24/7 Nurseline (English and Spanish) for PPO members
  • Cost Estimator Tool on Blue Access for Members
  • SmartER Care Options – member education campaign on choices for non-emergency care
Mobile App
  • Easy to use – find a doctor, see payment options, access electronic member ID card and more
Blue365®
  • Blue365 member discount program – members save on health club and gym memberships, weight loss programs, dental products and much more
 

Hospital Network Guide

Key Hospitals accepting the Blue Choice Preferred PPO Plans in 2024:

  • Amita Health Hospitals
  • Edwards Memorial
  • Alexian Brothers
  • Loyola Hospital Systems
  • Elmhurst Memorial
  • Galesburg Cottage Hospital
  • Northwestern Hospital Systems
  • Northshore Hospital
  • Swedish Covenant Hospital
  • OSF Hospital System
  • Presence Hospital Systems
  • University of Illinois Chicago
  • Rush University Hospital
  • St. Francis Medical Center
  • St. Mary Medical Center (OSF Hospital Systems)
  • UnityPoint Health Methodist

Key Hospitals NOT accepting the Blue Choice Preferred PPO Plans in 2024

Effective Jan. 1, 2020: Methodist First Choice #457 will participate in the Blue Precision HMO provider network. The details: Current members of Methodist First Choice will be able to choose doctors that are in the Blue Precision HMO network. Review a list of participating providersBlueCross BlueShield of IL for members impacted by this change.

Hospital Network Guide

BCBSIL Plan Network
Network NameBlue Preferred PPOBlue Precision HMOBlueCare Direct AdvocateBlue Focus
Network Hospital ListsHospital ListHospital ListHospital ListHospital List
NorthwesternXX
LoyolaXX
RushXXX
AdvocateX
NorthshoreXX
Presence HospitalsXX
U of CX ✓**XX
UICXX
Edward/ElmhurstXX

**Specialty care only with referral; No primary care

The BCBSIL 2024 individual health plan options include HMO Plans, Health Savings Accounts, and PPO Plans. The different plans are described below.

Illinois Plans Overview:

Blue FocusCare HMO: 1 Bronze, 1 Silver, 1 Gold

  • Network: BlueFocus CareSM (BFC)
  • Approximately 15 hospitals, 1,806 providers*
  • Micro network for Cook County
  • Lower-cost HMO plan

BlueCare Direct w/ Advocate: 2 Bronze, 2 Silver, 2 Gold

  • Network: BlueCare DirectSM (BHD)
  • Approximately 11 hospitals, 4,083 providers*
  • In collaboration with Advocate Health Care1
  • Competitive HMO plan with low out-of-pocket costs
  • Call today, be seen today by primary care doctors

Blue Precision HMO: 3 Bronze, 4 Silver, 3 Gold

  • Network: Blue Precision HMO SM (BAV)
  • Approximately 66 hospitals, 17,467 providers*
  • Helps keep costs low and predictable
  • Personalized with a primary care physician (PCP), who coordinates health care
  • Flexibility to change medical group

Blue Choice Preferred PPO: 5 Bronze, 4 Silver, 2 Gold

  • Network: Blue Choice Preferred PPO (BCE)
  • Approximately 176 hospitals, 73,027 providers*
  • New Silver plan –

    • Blue Choice Preferred Silver PPO 801 – Rx Copays

  • Greater flexibility and array of product options
  • Available in all counties
  • Virtual Visits available via phone, video or mobile app
  • Electronic prescriptions, when appropriate, can be sent to member’s pharmacy of choice

Dental

BlueCare Dental

  • Coverage for cleanings, preventive services and much more
  • Preventive dental services deductible waived

Prescription and Pharmacy

  • Six prescription payment level tiers for all ACA plans – generic, brand and specialty have preferred and non-preferred benefit levels
  • All plans include a drug list. PPO includes Preferred Pharmacy Network – Walgreens, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Albertsons and select Independent Pharmacies

*Estimates as of 6/1/2021 

1. An independently contracted provider. 

2. A “preferred” or “participating” pharmacy has a contract with BCBSIL’s pharmacy benefit manager (Prime Therapeutics) to provide pharmacy services at a negotiated rate. A pharmacy benefit  manager administers prescription drug benefits for a health plan. The terms “preferred” and “participating” should not be construed as a recommendation, referral or any other statement as

Discontinued Plans

SelectTemp PPO plans are not available at this time – United HealthOne short term plans are an available alternative.

BlueChoice Preferred Gold Plan 101 (Discontinued January 1, 2017)

Blue PPO Gold Plans (Discontinued January 1, 2016)