Important Information About Your Insurance Coverage with Florida Blue
By Federal Law, Emergency Care Is Always Covered as in Network.
In a true emergency, you may go to any hospital, no matter if they’re in your plan’s network or not.
Broward Health Is Out of Network With FL Blue as of July 1, 2025.
Broward Health is committed to keeping patients informed during ongoing contract discussions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., Health Options, Inc. and New Direction Behavioral Health, LLC. (collectively known as Florida Blue or FL Blue). Below is more information regarding changes to insurance coverage and answers to some frequently asked questions.
For many months, our team has been diligently working with FL Blue to achieve a new agreement. FL Blue has historically undervalued the care our team members provide. Our discussions with FL Blue are about fairness; we are simply asking that FL Blue reimburse our team at levels that are:
- Comparable to what they reimburse other health care providers in South Florida.
- Comparable to rates provided by other insurance companies for the same services.
Unfortunately, FL Blue has been unwilling to reach a new and fair agreement that values the care our team provides. As of July 1, 2025, Broward Health hospitals and physicians are out of network with FL Blue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even after months of active negotiation, our contract with FL Blue ended on June 30, 2025, without a new agreement. Broward Health providers and hospitals are out of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s network as of July 1, 2025.
We’ve been working in good faith with FL Blue for many months to renew our contract that would allow Broward Health providers and hospitals to remain in FL Blue’s network. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to agree on a new, fair contract, and the termination date for our current agreement passed.
This change applies to all Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) commercial, exchange and Medicare Advantage plans. It does not affect Medicare Supplemental or Medigap plans.
Yes, but you may have a higher out-of-pocket cost or your FL Blue plan may not cover it at all, depending on your plan benefits. Broward Health will continue to care for you, regardless of insurance status, and will work with FL Blue to provide you with an out-of-pocket cost estimate so you can make an informed decision about your care. Contact FL Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card to verify what your out-of-pocket responsibility would be and whether you have out-of-network benefits.
Patients with certain health conditions or those undergoing an active course of treatment may qualify for Continuity of Care benefits from FL Blue, which would allow you to continue receiving care for that condition at in-network rates for a period of time even while we are out of network. You can call FL Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card to learn more.
By federal law, emergency care is always covered as in network. For non-emergency services, FL Blue may make patients responsible for a significantly greater portion of the cost of their care.
You may be able to use your out-of-network benefits, but you could have higher out-of-pocket costs, or your FL Blue plan may not cover it at all. It depends on your particular plan’s benefits. Contact FL Blue at the number on the back of your insurance card to verify what your out-of-network benefits are and what your out-of-pocket responsibility would be.
Patients with certain health conditions or those undergoing an active course of treatment may qualify for Continuity of Care (COC) benefits from FL Blue, which would allow you to continue receiving care for that condition at in-network rates for a period of time even while we are out of network.
As required by applicable law, FL Blue members who are approved for COC would only be charged the usual in-network member responsibility and should not be required to pay any more before or after the service is provided.
To ensure that your health care will be covered by your insurance, we encourage you to prepare and submit COC forms to FL Blue. You should also contact Florida Blue Customer Service to confirm approval of your COC. If you are not on the list at the time you call for confirmation, you can request the COC Escalations Form for you and your physician to complete.
Florida Blue Commercial Members
- COC is for 90 days for PPO members and six months (180 days) for HMO Members.
- Confirm approval of COC by calling the Florida Blue Customer Service at 1-800-352-2583. Any member not on the COC Approved List who needs to request COC may contact Florida Blue Customer Service at 1-800-352-2583 to receive the COC Escalations Form for their provider to complete.
- Pregnant Patients: If you are receiving Obstetric Care from physicians who perform their deliveries at Broward Health facilities contact Florida Blue Customer Service at 1-800-352-2583.
Medicare Advantage Members
- Call Florida Blue Medicare Customer Service at 1-800-926-6565.
BlueCard Members
- All COC reviews and decisions are managed by the member’s “home” Blue plan.
- Call the number on your member ID card to validate COC benefits or to request a COC approval.
Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan Members
- Contact FEP Customer Service at 1-800-333-2227 to validate COC benefits and to request a COC approval.
State Of Florida Employees Health Plan
- Contact State Account Customer Service at 1-800-825-2583 to validate COC benefits and to request a COC approval.
You can contact FL Blue at the number on the back of your card to determine what your out-of-pocket cost would be for that service.
Yes. By federal law, emergency care is always covered as in network. In a true emergency, you may go to the nearest hospital, no matter if they’re in your plan’s network or not.
You will still have insurance coverage and the same benefit plan, but Broward Health’s providers and hospitals are no longer part of your plan’s network of providers. This means you can no longer receive care from Broward Health at in-network rates. This means FL Blue may require you to use out-of-network benefits, if available, or cover a greater portion of care out of pocket.
We are seeking rates that are comparable to what they reimburse other health care providers in South Florida and comparable to rates provided by other insurance companies for the same services.