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Blue Shield of California Offers Assistance to Members Affected by Floods, State of Emergencies and Mandatory Evacuations

We are dedicated to the safety and care of Blue Shield of California members.

This story is also available en Espanol.

Blue Shield of California is, as always, working hard to ensure the safety and care of all Blue Shield of California members. For information on California Office of Emergency Services resources, please visit CALOES.

For help with expenses as a result of damage to your home or other necessary costs and serious needs caused by flooding, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or DisasterAssistance.gov for help applying for FEMA disaster assistance. 

How to access the care you need as a member of Blue Shield of California:

Medications

During a mandatory evacuation, we allow the immediate refill of prescription medications for members with prescription drug benefits – even if the medication isn’t due for a refill. Contact your pharmacy (or the retail pharmacy chain) or call us at the number on your Blue Shield member ID card for more information.

Virtual Care

Virtual care is available anytime, anywhere. It’s included with most Blue Shield plans.

  • Teladoc Health connects you with a doctor by phone or video and is available 24 hours a day. Call 800-TELADOC (800-835-2362) [TTY: (855) 636-1578]. 
  • NurseHelp 24/7SM offers advice from a registered nurse at any time. Call (877) 304-0504 (TTY: 711).
  • Please visit blueshieldca.com and log in to view your plan options.
  • For CalPERS members with HMO and Medicare Supplement plans:
    • Teladoc Health connects you with a doctor by phone or video, 24 hours a day. Call 800-Teladoc (835-2362) [TTY: (855) 636-1578] or access Teladoc care via blueshieldca.com or the Blue Shield mobile app.
    • NurseHelp 24/7SM offers advice from a registered nurse at any time. Call (877) 304-0504 (TTY: 711)
  • For CalPERS members with Pers Gold and Platinum PPO plans:
    • Virtual care is available via Included Health’s virtual care network. Call (855) 633-4436. You can also access virtual care via includedhealth.com/calpers or the Included Health app.
  • Virtual Care with Virtual Blue
    • Virtual Blue members have access to virtual urgent care, primary care and specialist care, including access to mental health providers. You can access care by logging in to your online account at blueshieldca.com and clicking on book visit. You can also access virtual care through the Blue Shield mobile app. To download, visit bsca.com/mobile. For assistance, call the Medical Help number at (844) 560-6649 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Behavioral Health

If you have mental health benefits, you can access resources such as counseling through Blue Shield’s network of behavioral health providers. For help, call 1-877-263-9952, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • For individual and family plan members and employer-sponsored plan members:
    • If you have mental health benefits, you can access resources such as counseling by calling the phone number on your Blue Shield member ID card.
  • For CalPERS members:
    • You can access resources such as counseling and get more information by contacting the number located on your ID card.

Care Management

Are you enrolled in a care and disease management program? If you need to leave your area, contact your case manager or call the number on your Blue Shield member ID card to ensure your care isn’t interrupted.

Vision Plans

Vision plan members in an affected area can get replacement contacts or glasses. If needed, you can use out-of-network providers at in-network costs. For help, call (877) 601-9083 (TTY: 711), 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT on Sundays. The office is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

  • For Medicare and Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP) members:
    • Vision plan members in an affected area can get a new pair of contacts or glasses. If needed, you can use out-of-network providers at in-network costs. For help, call (855) 492-9028 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PST,  Monday through Saturday.
  • For CalPERS members:
    • Members with vision benefits with Blue Shield in an affected area can get replacement contacts or glasses. If needed, you can use out-of-network providers at in-network costs. Medicare Supplement members can call (855) 505-8106 (TTY: 711) for assistance. 

Displacement

If you have been displaced and use durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies, you can replace them. Please contact your DME supplier for assistance.

  • For Medicare and Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP) members:
    • Did you have to leave your area? You can get care through an out-of-network provider at in-network costs if in-network providers are not available. You can also get new durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies if needed. Please contact your DME supply company for help.

Accessing your ID card

Lost your Blue Shield ID card? You can view it online by logging in to your online account and clicking on ID card. You can also access your digital ID card through the Blue Shield app. Just log in and select ID card.

Need more help?

For more information or help, please call Customer Service at the number on the back of your ID card. In the event of an emergency in your area, please visit blueshieldca.com for updates on plan services.

  • For Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP):
    • You can call (800) 452-4413 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, seven days a week. In the event of an emergency in your area, please visit blueshieldca.com for updates on plan services.

In some cases, you may be able to receive help with costs from damage to your home or other needs caused by a natural disaster. Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or DisasterAssistance.gov for help applying for FEMA disaster assistance.

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For members of Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan:

Medications

During a mandatory evacuation, for members with prescription drug benefits, you can refill your prescription medications right away. This applies even if the medication isn’t due for a refill. Contact your pharmacy (or the retail pharmacy chain). You can also call Medi-Cal Rx at (800) 977-2273 (TTY: 711) for more information.

Virtual Care

Virtual care is available anytime, anywhere.

  • Teladoc Health connects you with a doctor by phone or video, 24 hours a day.
    Call 800-TELADOC (800-835-2362).
  • Nurse Advice Line offers advice from a registered nurse anytime. You can call toll-free at (800) 609-4166 (TTY: 711) to talk to a nurse, day or night.

Behavioral Health

You can call Behavioral Health Services at:

  • San Diego Promise members: (855) 321-2211 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
  • Los Angeles Promise members: (855) 765-9701 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
  • For mental health crises, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or calling (800) 273-8255 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Care Management

If you are enrolled in a care management program and you need to leave your area, contact Customer Service for help, you can call:

  • San Diego Promise members: (855) 699-5557, (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can help make sure your care isn’t interrupted.
  • Los Angeles Promise members: (800) 605-2556, (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can help make sure your care isn’t interrupted. 

Vision Care

Plan members in an affected area can get a new pair of contacts or glasses. If needed, you can use out-of-network providers at in-network costs. For help, call Customer Service at:

  • San Diego Promise members: (855) 699-5557 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
  • Los Angeles Promise members: (800) 605-2556 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.

Displacement

Did you have to leave your area? You can get care through an out-of-network provider at in-network costs if in-network providers are not available. You can also get new durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies if needed. Please contact your DME supply company for help.

Accessing Your ID Card

If you have lost your member ID card, you can view and print your card from our website at blueshieldca.com/promise. Log in to your account and choose ID card.

More Information

We are here to help. You can call Customer Service at:

  • San Diego Promise members: (855) 699-5557 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday.
  • Los Angeles Promise members: (800) 605-2556 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday. Members can also visit our Community Resource Centers located throughout Los Angeles County and get help with:
    • member services
    • enrollment and renewal support for Medi-Cal
    • other social services assistance
    • To learn more, call (877) 287-6290 (TTY: 711), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday, or visit communityresourcecenterla.org.

In the event of an emergency in your area, please visit blueshieldca.com/promise for updates on plan services.

In some cases, you may be able to receive help with costs from damage to your home or other needs caused by a natural disaster. Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or DisasterAssistance.gov.

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In times like these, it is important to work together. As your health plan, we want you to know that access to the care you need is our top priority.