BlueCard^®: Member ID Cards

The three-character prefix at the beginning of the member’s ID number is the key element used to identify and correctly route claims. The prefix identifies the Blue Plan or national account to which the member belongs. It is critical for confirming a patient’s membership and coverage.  

To ensure accurate claim processing, it is critical to capture all ID card data. If the information is not captured correctly, you may experience a delay with the claim processing. Please make copies of the front and back of the ID card and pass this key information to your billing staff.  

Sample ID Cards

The PPO suitcase logo indicates that the member is enrolled in either a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan or an exclusive provider organization (EPO) plan. In either case, you will be reimbursed according to your network provider agreement. Please note; however, that EPO products may have limited out-of-area benefits. The potential for such benefit limitations is indicated on the reverse side of an EPO ID card.  

The empty suitcase logo  indicates the member is enrolled in one of the following types of plans: traditional, health maintenance organization (HMO) or point of service (POS). For members with these types of coverage, you will be reimbursed for covered services according to your provider agreement.  

The following ID cards do not feature either suitcase logo:

• Medicaid 
• State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)  
• Medicare Supplement  

Government-determined reimbursement levels apply to these products. While Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska routes all these claims for out-of-area members to the member’s Blue Plan, most of the Medicare Supplement or Medigap claims are sent directly from the Medicare intermediary to the member’s Plan via the established electronic crossover process.  

BlueCard^® - registered derivative