The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that all health plans provide information that will help consumers understand how reliably the plan reimburses for covered services and other practical information. Health care transparency provides consumers with the information necessary to choose their health care plan.
If you receive services at an out-of-network facility, you may be balance billed. The amount the plan pays for covered services is based on the allowed amount. You may be responsible for any excess charges of the allowance for covered services, with the exception of emergency services. If an out-of-network provider charges more than the allowed amount, you may have to pay the difference (balance billing). For example, if an out-of-network hospital charges $1,500 for an overnight stay and the allowed amount is $1,000, you may have to pay the $500 difference.
Medical, Vision and Pharmacy Claims:
If you received care from a health care provider that participates with Blue Cross Blue Shield, the provider will submit the claim on your behalf. If the provider does not participate with Blue Cross Blue Shield, you will need to complete a member submitted claim form for medical, vision or pharmacy claims found below:
Dental Claims:
If the services are non-covered, a participating provider is not required to submit a claim. The member may submit a claim for these charges by completing an American Dental Association (ADA) claim form supplied by the Member's dental provider.
Once the medical, vision, pharmacy or dental claim form has been completed you can mail or fax the form to:
Mail: 4510 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58121
Fax: 701-282-1888
The claims form must be submitted within 12 months of the occurrence. If you have further questions, please contact Member Services by visiting our Contact Us page or by calling 1-844-363-8457.
A grace period is the amount of time BCBSND will allow members to pay owed premium to keep their health insurance active. Because all premiums are due prior to the effective date of the coverage, the grace period begins at any point a member enters a coverage month for which the member has not paid.
Grace periods for members will vary, depending on whether they are receiving an Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) from the federal government through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM). For members receiving APTC through the FFM, insurers are required to allow up to three consecutive months to pay premium in full, as long as the first month of coverage is paid to effectuate the plan.
What is a Pending Claim?
A claim that is submitted but not yet approved, denied, finalized, or completed.
What is my Grace Period?
If you receive an APTC from the FFM, your grace period is three consecutive months. If you do not receive any assistance from the FFM, your grace period is 31 days.
How can I avoid my coverage getting cancelled?
Always pay premium timely. Premium is due the 1st of the month for which coverage is active. So, coverage for January is due January 1st. Answer all questions on your application honestly and report all income correctly with the FFM.
A retroactive denial is the reversal of a previously paid claim. BCBSND may reverse a previously paid claim when eligibility has changed retroactively. Eligibility can change retroactively in cases of fraud (when a member fills out an application with incorrect or fraudulent information), when members or dependents continue receiving services after losing eligibility, when members fail to meet the reporting requirements for loss of eligibility, or in situations where premium is not paid, leaving the member uncovered for services. Members can avoid retroactive denials by reporting all changes timely, paying monthly premium, and ensuring eligibility requirements are met.
If a member overpays their premium amount, they may receive reimbursement, dependent on the when BCBSND receives the payment. Members who over pay while coverage is still active will see the remaining premium amount credited to their next month's premium. Members who overpay - beyond their coverage cancel date will receive a refund in the form of a check. If you believe you have overpaid your premium, please call the number on the back of your ID card.
Medically necessary services, supplies or treatments are provided by a health care provider to treat an illness or injury that are reasonable, necessary and/or appropriate based on evidence based clinical standards of care. These standards of care must be:
Certain services are subject to prior authorization before being performed. These are found in the member's Benefit Plan book under the Authorizations section. Services that are subject to prior authorization may vary from Plan to Plan, so attention should be given to the individual Plan that is being considered.
Prior authorization should be obtained before the service is provided, however if the Member's medical condition does not allow the Member to obtain prior authorization due to an emergency Admission, the Member or the Member's representative is requested to notify the Claims Administrator of the Admission during the next business day of the Claims Administrator or as soon thereafter as reasonably possible to obtain authorization. Provider can submit a precertification request as long as the claim has not been submitted. If prior authorization is not obtained, there is potential you may have to pay up to the full amount of the claim charges.
Utilization Management has standards to try meet the following review timelines:
An appeal may be submitted if there is a disagreement with a prior authorization determination. The appeal may be submitted by the Member, provider or Member’s authorized representative. To submit an appeal, please complete the appeal form located at BCBSND.com/appeal or contact BCBSND Member Services by calling the phone number on the back of your BCBSND member ID card to request the appeal form.
Appeals have standards to meet the following review timelines:
Sometimes our members need access to drugs that are not listed on the plan’s formulary (drug list). These medications are initially reviewed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota through the formulary exception review process. The provider can submit the request to us by faxing the Coverage Exception Prescriber Fax Form. The member can submit a request by completing the online Request for Prescription Drug Exception form or by calling the number on the back of their ID card.
If the drug is denied, you have the right to an external review.
If you feel we have denied the non-formulary request incorrectly, you may ask us to submit the case for an external review by an impartial, third-party reviewer known as an independent review organization (IRO). We must follow the IRO’s decision.
An IRO review may be requested by a member, member’s representative, or prescribing provider by mailing, calling, or faxing the request:
Member Pharmacy Coverage Exception Form - External Review
Mail: BCBSND
PO Box 1570
Fargo, ND 58107-1570
Phone: 844-363-8457
Fax: 701-277-2209
For initial standard exception review of medical requests, the timeframe for review is 72 hours from when we receive the request.
For initial expedited exception review of medical requests, the timeframe for review is 24 hours from when we receive the request.
For external review of standard exception requests that were initially denied, the timeframe for review is 72 hours from when we receive the request.
For external review of expedited exception requests that were initially denied, the timeframe for review is 24 hours from when we receive the request.
To request an expedited review for exigent circumstance, select the “Request for Expedited Review” option in the Request Form.
After a visit to a health care provider, a member may receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) detailing the services received, how much they cost and how much your plan paid. An EOB is not a bill. Your health care provider will provide a bill for any amount you may owe.
BCBSND sends EOBs after claims have been processed, which means the claim has been received and adjudicated.
Learn more about how to read EOBs.
Coordination of Benefits applies when a person has health coverage from more than one health insurance provider. Coordination of Benefit rules provide the order in which each plan pays a claim for benefits.
The plan that pays first is the "Primary Plan." The Primary Plan must pay benefits in accordance with its policy terms without regard to the possibility that another plan may cover some expenses.
The plan that pays after the Primary Plan is the "Secondary Plan." The Secondary Plan may reduce the benefits it pays so that payments from all plans do not exceed 100 percent of the total allowable expense.
