Member Perks / Keeping you healthy

12 Ways to Make the Most of Your BCBSRI Plan

13 Advantages of Your BCBSRI Plan

You're used to using your BCBSRI health plan when you’re sick or have an injury. But did you know your plan also has many benefits to help you stay well? Here are 12 ways to make the most of your plan—features that help keep you healthy, save you money, and make using your plan easy and convenient.

Keeping you healthy 

1. Schedule your $0 yearly checkup.
Don’t miss out on this annual visit, which helps your primary care provider focus on preventing future health problems. When you see a provider in the BCBSRI network, the checkup is covered at no additional cost to you. So call your primary care provider today!

2. Have $0 preventive cancer screenings.
Many types of cancer are "silent," meaning you'll have no symptoms until the disease has advanced and is harder to treat. These screenings can find diseases in earlier, more treatable stages and, in some cases, even help prevent them. Ask your PCP which screenings you need. Here are general guidelines based on age and gender.

  • Colorectal cancer screening
    Everyone ages 45-75
    A  number of different screening options are available, from a colonoscopy to take-home tests. Ask your PCP what they recommend.
     
  • Breast cancer screening1
    Women ages 40-74
    The best way to find breast cancer is with a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. Talk with your provider about whether you should start having screenings in your 40s. Preventive screening is covered starting at age 40.
     
  • Cervical cancer screening1
    Women ages 21-65
    A Pap test can find abnormal cells before they turn into cancer or find cancer in its early stages.

3. Make fitness fun with the Virgin Pulse app.
If your BCBSRI health plan includes our wellness program, powered by Virgin Pulse®2, you can earn points and get motivated with healthy team challenges, customized nutrition tools, and trackers for activity, weight, sleep, and mood. To get started, sign up at join.VirginPulse.com or download the Virgin Pulse app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.3 Choose Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island as your sponsor. Then connect your Fitbit® or other wearable device to track and sync steps with the app.

4. Video chat with a doctor.
Many BCBSRI health plans include Doctors Online4, which lets you video chat 24/7 with a doctor on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You can also schedule visits with a therapist or psychiatrist. Create an account today, before you need it. Search “Drs. Online” from the Apple App Store or Google Play2 or visit drs-online.com. You also have coverage for clinically appropriate video visits from local providers such as primary care providers, specialists, and therapists. Your share of the cost is the same as for an in-person visit.  

5. Get help with ongoing health conditions
Our nurses, dietitians, and social workers can help you control health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. They work to help you reach your health goals and make the most of your benefits. You can work with our team over the phone or at a Your Blue StoreSM location. This help is offered at no additional cost as part of your plan.5 To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 1-844-563-0892 or email care@bcbsri.org.

Making it easy

6. Easily access your information online.
Get easy access to your digital ID card, electronic documents (go paperless!), claim status, and benefit information. If you have a health savings account (HSA), you can manage it too. It’s simple to register—have your member ID handy and visit myBCBSRI.com.

7. Visit Your Blue Store to ask a question in person.
Stop by one of our convenient Your Blue Store locations in Cranston, East Providence, Lincoln, Narragansett, and Warwick.

8. Call on the weekend.
Questions can pop up anytime. That’s why you can talk with BCBSRI Customer Service 7 days a week. We’re happy to talk with you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to noon. 

9. Find help for caregivers. 
Are you caring for a loved one, or is someone helping you? Discover resources available through your plan and in the community. Visit our site for caregivers.

Saving you money

10. Take free exercise and healthy living classes.
BCBSRI members can take free in-person classes at Your Blue StoreSM locations in Cranston, East Providence, Lincoln, Narragansett, and Warwick. We offer dozens of classes each week, from yoga to circuit training to cooking demos. Sign up for a class at bcbsri.com/events.6 All fitness levels are welcome. You can also visit the BCBSRI Facebook page to find videos of the classes that you can do at home. 

11. Get member-only discounts on healthy living.
Want to subscribe to a fitness streaming service? Buy a fitness tracker or equipment? Get great discounts on more than 45 top national retailers at Blue365.7

12. Use your plan for lower prices for healthcare services.
We work with doctors and other healthcare providers to ensure you receive high-quality care at lower costs than you'd pay without your BCBSRI plan. When you receive a "Healthcare Services Summary" from us in the mail, it'll show how much you saved on each service.

1People who are transgender should ask their PCP whether they should have these screenings.

2Virgin Pulse® is an independent wellness company, contracted by BCBSRI to provide wellness services. Virgin Pulse is available to BCBSRI subscribers (the primary person on the BCBSRI health plan) and their enrolled spouses. Not all employers offer Virgin Pulse through their plan. Standard mobile phone carrier and data usage charges apply. The downloading and use of the Virgin Pulse mobile app is subject to the terms and conditions of the app and the online stores from which it is downloaded.

3Standard mobile phone carrier and data usage charges apply. The downloading and use of the mobile app is subject to the terms and conditions of the app and the online stores from which it is downloaded. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.

4Doctors Online is a telemedicine service provided by American Well®, an independent company that administers Doctors Online on behalf of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Not available with all plans.

5Care Management is not available for Plan 65 members. If your primary care provider is part of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH), a BCBSRI Care Manager will refer you to the Care Manager at your PCMH. Care Management at your PCMH is offered at no additional cost through your BCBSRI plan.

6Not all exercises are suitable for everyone and any exercise program could result in injury. Always consult with your physician before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have an existing health condition.

7© 2000‐2024 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association ‐ All Rights Reserved. The Blue365 program is made available by BCBSRI in conjunction with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

Your Blue Store locations follow state and federal guidelines during emergencies. Please visit bcbsri.com/yourbluestore for the latest information.

For questions about your coverage, please contact BCBSRI Customer Service.