Medical

UT SELECT Medical Plan

UT offers UT SELECT, a self-funded medical PPO plan, administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company. 

Choice of Doctors — Each Time You Need Health Care
When you enroll in UT SELECT, you can receive care from any licensed doctor you choose; no referrals are required.  If you use a Network doctor, you will receive the highest level of benefits, pay less out of pocket, and will usually not have to file any claims. If you use an Out-of-Network doctor, you will still be covered, but your out-of-pocket costs for health care services will be higher.

Access to One of the Largest Networks in Texas with Worldwide Coverage
UT SELECT members have access to one of the largest networks of contracting doctors and hospitals in Texas, with more than 60,000 physicians and specialists and over 400 hospitals. If you are traveling outside Texas, there are even more Blue Cross and Blue Shield Network providers from which to choose.  More than 85 percent of all doctors and hospitals throughout the United States contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Outside of the U.S, you will have access to doctors and hospitals in over 200 countries. With UT SELECT, you have worldwide coverage for both emergency and non-emergency care.

To find a physician or specialist near you, search online at www.bcbstx.com/ut or contact UT SELECT Customer Service toll free at 1-866-882-2034.

Visiting an Out-of-Network doctor - You may still save money.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas contracts with many out-of-network doctors and hospitals. ParPlan providers accept the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas allowable amounts for covered services and cannot bill you more. In most cases ParPlan providers will file claims, too. Look for participating doctors and hospitals for UT SELECT at www.bcbstx.com/ut under ParPlan.

Transitional Benefits

If you or a covered dependent are being treated for a chronic or ongoing medical condition at the time you enroll in UT SELECT, and your doctor is not in the UT SELECT PPO network, ongoing care with your current doctor for up to three months may be requested.  Some medical conditions that are eligible for transitional benefits include

• Pregnancy (if you are in your third trimester on September 1 or at the time of your enrollment);
• Cancer;
• Allergy Treatments;
• Organ Transplant;
• Heart Failure;
• Physical Therapy;
• Behavioral Health Care; and
• Diabetes.

Transitional benefits are subject to approval. To request transitional benefits, complete a “Transitional Benefits Form”available from your institution Benefits Office or online at www.bcbstx.com/ut. Instructions for submitting the request to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas are on the form. If the transitional care request is approved, you or your covered dependent may continue to see the Out-of-Network doctor and receive the Network level of benefits from the UT SELECT plan for up to three months. If the transitional care request is denied, you may still continue to see your current doctor, but benefits will be paid at the Out-of-Network level.

If your doctor under your previous plan is in the UT SELECT PPO Network, you do not have to complete a “Transitional Benefits Form.”

Helping You Achieve a Healthier Life

Sometimes managing your health requires more than doctor visits, lab tests and prescriptions.

Blue Care Connection from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is an umbrella of programs that helps you achieve higher levels of wellness. Through outreach, educational resources and health advocacy, Blue Care Connection guides you through the often-complex health care system so you can focus on what matters most — getting healthy and staying well.

Blue Care Connection programs assist UT SELECT plan participants living with current serious medical conditions, as well as those considered "at risk." If you, or a covered dependent, are considered "at risk," the Blue Care Connection programs are uniquely designed to detect health care needs early. Early detection allows Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to provide appropriate outreach and meaningful intervention to help prevent future medical complications. 

Blue Access® for Members - Information is a Powerful Tool
Go towww.bcbstx.com/ut and log onto Blue Access for Members, and check the status of a claim and your claim history, locate a doctor or hospital, request a new or replacement ID card, and access the many other online resources for Health Care Information!

BlueExtras^SM: Ways to save money with your UT SELECT ID card
Through the BlueExtras discount program, all Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) members, including UT SELECT plan participants, are eligible to save money on value-added health care products and services that help support healthy lifestyles. These discounts are for health care products and services not usually covered by your health care benefits plan. There are no claims to file, no referrals or pre-authorizations, and no additional fees to participate – it’s just one more benefit of being a BCBSTX member!

To use BlueExtras, simply show your BCBSTX/UT SELECT ID card to a BlueExtras provider to receive your discount. For additional information about the products and services offered through BlueExtras, log into Blue Access® for Members (BAM) at www.bcbstx.com/ut. Click on the My Coverage tab, and then the BlueExtras Discount Program link.

International SOS - Available For Employees Only

When traveling abroad, coverage is provided for your medical needs through your UT SELECT program; however, additional services are available through the UT System—wide International SOS program. This is a comprehensive, 24-hour medical response organization that provides international assistance services worldwide through the use of multilingual Alarm Centers on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. International SOS responds to calls for help and advice from students, travelers and expatriates, managing issues from the simplest task of a doctor referral to the most complex emergency evacuation. Membership is included for no charge for staff, faculty and students when traveling abroad on official UT business, and is available at a discount when traveling for a personal trip. You may obtain a membership card from your institution travel office. All UT-related travel abroad not booked using one of the University’s contracted travel agencies should be reported to International SOS in advance. This can be done via the UT System SOS portal at http://www.internationalsos.com (use U.T. System Membership # 11BSGC000037 to log on).

Your Health Care Benefits Travel With You
Your UT SELECT ID card features the Blue Cross and Blue Shield symbols and the PPO in a suitcase logo telling providers that you are part of the BlueCard program. This means you and your covered dependents have access to Blue Cross and Blue Shield network providers throughout the United States and around the world. Follow these steps to receive the network (highest) level of benefits while traveling or away from home.

IF YOU NEED TO:

Locate the nearest network doctors and hospitals - Refer to your UT SELECT ID card and call BlueCard Access at 1-800-810-BLUE (2583)

Be admitted to a hospital and/or preauthorize care - Refer to your UT SELECT ID card and call 1-800-441-9188 to preauthorize care for medical or 1-800-528-7264 to preauthorize care for behavioral health (mental health and chemical dependency)

Receive medical attention - Pay any applicable deductible, copayment or coinsurance amount and pay for any non-covered services

File a Claim - BlueCard (network) providers will file your claims for you. BlueCard providers have also agreed to accept Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s allowable amount for covered services and will not balance bill you for any costs exceeding the allowable amount.

If you do not use a BlueCard provider for care, you will need to pay the doctor or hospital at the time of service. Then, you will need to complete and submit a claim form. The claim form is available online atwww.bcbstx.com/ut. Non-network benefits will apply toward covered expenses.

Pharmacy Benefits

Your Pharmacy Benefits under UT SELECT are administered by Medco Health Solutions and require a %50 annual deductible per person, per plan year. Read more about Pharmacy Benefits