2023 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan - FEP Blue Focus
Section 9. Coordinating Benefits With Medicare and Other Coverage
Page 121
Section 9. Coordinating Benefits With Medicare and Other Coverage
Page 121
If you do seek damages for your illness or injury, you must tell us promptly that you have made a claim against another party for a condition that we have paid or may pay benefits for, you must seek recovery of our benefit payments and liabilities, and you must tell us about any recoveries you obtain, whether in or out of court. We may seek a first priority lien on the proceeds of your claim in order to reimburse ourselves to the full amount of benefits we have paid or will pay.
We may request that you sign a reimbursement agreement and/or assign to us (1) your right to bring an action or (2) your right to the proceeds of a claim for your illness or injury. We may delay processing of your claims until you provide the signed reimbursement agreement and/or assignment, and we may enforce our right of recovery by offsetting future benefits.
Note: We will pay the costs of any covered services you receive that are in excess of any recoveries made.
Our rights of recovery and subrogation as described in this Section may be enforced, at the Carrier’s option, by the Carrier, by any of the Local Plans that administered the benefits paid in connection with the injury or illness at issue, or by any combination of these entities. Please be aware that more than one Local Plan may have a right of recovery/subrogation for claims arising from a single incident (e.g., a car accident resulting in claims paid by multiple Local Plans) and that the resolution by one Local Plan of its lien will not eliminate another Local Plan’s right of recovery.
Among the other situations covered by this provision, the circumstances in which we may subrogate or assert a right of recovery shall also include:
Contact us if you need more information about subrogation.
We may request that you sign a reimbursement agreement and/or assign to us (1) your right to bring an action or (2) your right to the proceeds of a claim for your illness or injury. We may delay processing of your claims until you provide the signed reimbursement agreement and/or assignment, and we may enforce our right of recovery by offsetting future benefits.
Note: We will pay the costs of any covered services you receive that are in excess of any recoveries made.
Our rights of recovery and subrogation as described in this Section may be enforced, at the Carrier’s option, by the Carrier, by any of the Local Plans that administered the benefits paid in connection with the injury or illness at issue, or by any combination of these entities. Please be aware that more than one Local Plan may have a right of recovery/subrogation for claims arising from a single incident (e.g., a car accident resulting in claims paid by multiple Local Plans) and that the resolution by one Local Plan of its lien will not eliminate another Local Plan’s right of recovery.
Among the other situations covered by this provision, the circumstances in which we may subrogate or assert a right of recovery shall also include:
- When a third party injures you, for example, in an automobile accident or through medical malpractice;
- When you are injured on premises owned by a third party; or
- When you are injured and benefits are available to you or your dependent, under any law or under any type of insurance, including, but not limited to:
- No-fault insurance and other insurance that pays without regard to fault, including personal injury protection benefits, regardless of any election made by you to treat those benefits as secondary to this Plan
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
- Workers’ Compensation benefits
- Medical reimbursement coverage
- No-fault insurance and other insurance that pays without regard to fault, including personal injury protection benefits, regardless of any election made by you to treat those benefits as secondary to this Plan
Contact us if you need more information about subrogation.
When you have Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Plan (FEDVIP)
Some FEHB plans already cover some dental and vision services. When you are covered by more than one dental/vision plan, coverage provided under your FEHB plan remains as your primary coverage. FEDVIP coverage pays secondary to that coverage. When you enroll in a dental and/or vision plan, you will be asked to provide information on your FEHB plan so that your plans can coordinate benefits. Providing your FEHB information may reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
Some FEHB plans already cover some dental and vision services. When you are covered by more than one dental/vision plan, coverage provided under your FEHB plan remains as your primary coverage. FEDVIP coverage pays secondary to that coverage. When you enroll in a dental and/or vision plan, you will be asked to provide information on your FEHB plan so that your plans can coordinate benefits. Providing your FEHB information may reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
Clinical trials
If you are a participant in an approved clinical trial, this health Plan will provide benefits for covered related care as follows, if it is not provided by the clinical trial:
If you are a participant in an approved clinical trial, this health Plan will provide benefits for covered related care as follows, if it is not provided by the clinical trial:
- Routine care costs – costs for medically necessary services such as doctor visits, lab tests, X-rays and scans, and hospitalizations related to treating the patient’s condition, whether the patient is in a clinical trial or is receiving standard therapy. We provide benefits for these types of costs at the benefit levels described in Section 5 (Benefits) when the services are covered under the Plan and we determine that they are medically necessary.