BCBS Memo - New ID Card Formats for ActiveCare 1, 2 and 3

September 29, 2008

New ID Card Formats for ActiveCare 1, 2 and 3

Starting next week, the week of October 6, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will begin issuing ActiveCare 1, 2 and 3 ID cards in a new format.  The new Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas/TRS-ActiveCare identification cards will look different because they are different.  The new ID cards will have a magnetic stripe on the back. 

When visiting a doctor’s office or hospital, the office staff may slide the new card through a card-reading device to get basic information about the health plan. Not all health care providers have card-reading devices at this time, but as the new technology becomes available, it will save the provider data-entry time and eliminate keystroke errors, making the eligibility and benefits verification process more efficient.

The new card is not a credit or debit card. There’s no financial or medical information stored on the card. 

The card has also been formatted to make it easier for plan participants and their health care providers to communicate with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  Plus, there’s a list of important phone numbers, including the condition management and Special Beginnings^® prenatal education programs, the 24/7 Nurseline, and of course, customer service.  To view the new ActiveCare 1, 2 and 3 cards, click here . 

How will the new ID cards be issued?

The newly formatted cards will be issued to:

▪         New hires

▪         Participants requesting/needing replacement or additional cards

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will not reissue all cards.  Some of your employees will receive the new ID card, while others will still have the current ID card. Be assured that both versions will be valid and accepted by providers.

For those employees receiving the newly formatted ID cards, one card will be issued to those with employee-only coverage and two cards will be issued to those electing employee and spouse, employee and child(ren), or employee and family coverage.  Additional cards for covered dependents may be ordered through Blue Access for Members or by calling TRS-ActiveCare customer service.