Name of Manual - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Member ID Cards/Health Coverage Options
Health Care Options
Fully Insured Groups Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus (Blue
Cross) fully-insured contracts are available for employers that
select our standard benefits. The employer can choose the
deductible/coinsurance and copay amounts.
Fully insured contracts generally:
• offer consistent benefit options
• follow state mandates
• follow federal mandates
• have standard member identification (ID) cards
• are regulated by the Department of Commerce (fee-for-service)
or the Department of Health (managed care)
Self-Insured Groups We also administer self-insured contracts in which the employer
selects the benefits and assumes all or part of the financial risk.
These may also be referred to as ASOs (Administrative Services
Only). Self-insured contracts generally:
• offer many contract benefit options
• are not required to follow state mandates
• follow federal mandates
• have member ID cards that may not be standard and may
include the employer name and/or logo
Patients who belong to self-insured groups administered by Blue
Cross are to be treated as any other member for purposes of the
provider contract. Because your office must bill us directly for
these patients, it is important to check the back of the member ID
card to see if we are listed as the administrator of the health plan.
The front of the card may have the company’s plan name.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Provider Policy and Procedure Manual (12/27/10) 5-3