Blue Review
A newsletter for contracting institutional and professional providers

January 2020

Notification of Annual Benefit Updates

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) will be updating member files with annual benefit changes over the next few weeks. As always, we encourage you to verify your patients’ coverage first, using the Availity® Provider Portal or your preferred vendor portal.

In the event a call is necessary to contact BCBSIL Provider Customer Service, please know that hold times may be longer than normal.

  • Customer Advocates will have extended hours for eligibility and benefit inquiries Jan. 2 - 24, 2020, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., CST.
  • Claims Customer Advocates hours will remain the same, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., CST. 

As a reminder, you may obtain routine eligibility and benefit information as well as claims status in seconds using Availity or the web vendor of your choice. For patients who are not scheduled for appointments, deferring eligibility and benefit information requests to a later date is appreciated.