Finding Care FAQs

Your PPO plan has a network of select doctors, hospitals and other health professionals you can choose from when you need care. You can find the ones in your plan’s network using Provider Finder^®. Just log in to your account to narrow the search results to your specific plan. 

Remember, not every provider in your area contracts with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. If you use a provider who is not in your network, you’ll have to pay them directly and won’t get the discounted rate your plan offers.

Often the choice is clear. If you have signs of a heart attack, it’s best to go to the emergency room. But what if you’ve got a sore throat? Or lower back pain? Your doctor’s office, 24/7 Nurseline, telehealth visits, retail clinics, urgent care centers and hospital emergency rooms are all part of the care landscape. Knowing where to go can make a big difference in the cost of your care. When you use in-network providers, you often pay less. Provider Finder can help you see the providers covered by your health plan.

It’s good to find a doctor before you need one. You’ll probably want a doctor located near you. Someone you can trust and feel comfortable talking to about your health. To make the most of your benefits and save money, you need a doctor who’s in your health plan network. Provider Finder can help you zero in on all your options. The simple online tool makes it easy to find in-network doctors who meet your needs. You can search by medical specialty, ZIP code and gender.

A little research is one of the best ways to be an informed health care consumer. Provider Finder makes it easy to find doctors and hospitals in your plan’s network. You can also compare costs. Use the tool to check providers’ certifications and read patient reviews. Get estimates on more than 1,700 procedures, treatments and tests. You can see cost breakdowns, plus how your copay or coinsurance applies to your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for most networks. 

Worried you may be having a heart attack? Did you black out after a nasty fall? Go to the hospital emergency room (ER) or call 911 when you have a medical emergency. ER doctors and staff are trained to treat serious and life-threatening health issues. Plus, the ER is open 24/7. Use Provider Finder to make sure a specific hospital ER is in your plan’s provider network.

Unless you are seriously bleeding or might be having a heart attack, the one place you shouldn’t go is to a hospital emergency room. For flu symptoms, a nasty cough, back pain, migraines and more, you have lots of choices. Your doctor’s office, the 24/7 Nurseline, a telehealth visit, nearby retail health clinics and urgent care center are all options. Provider Finder can help you zero in on in-network providers covered by your health plan. 

Premiums, deductibles, copays — these are a few of the big areas that directly affect your out-of-pocket costs. To see specific details about your current plan’s premium, deductibles and copays, log in to Blue Access for Members℠, and go to the My Coverage tab. When shopping for a new health plan, compare details of all three to find a care plan that best meets your needs and your budget.