The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, also known as the BCBS Federal Employee Program® (BCBS FEP®), has been part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) since its inception in 1960. It covers about 5.5 million federal employees, retirees and their families out of the nearly 8 million people who receive their benefits through the FEHBP.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association negotiates annually with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to determine the benefits and premiums for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. The 35 local member companies of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association are the primary points of contact for Service Benefit Plan members. Those Plans, including Regence, are responsible for processing claims and providing customer service to BCBS FEP members.
Claims are processed according to the benefits, rules, guidelines and regulations of the federal government, which supersede state laws. Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans offer three coverage options: Basic Option, Standard Option and FEP Blue Focus.
Identifying members
All FEP member numbers start with the letter "R", followed by eight numerical digits. Note: On the provider remittance advice, the member number shows as an "8" rather than "R".
The enrollment code on member ID cards indicates the coverage type. View sample member ID cards.
Pre-authorization
Both the Basic and Standard Option plans require that some services and supplies be pre-authorized. The Blue Focus plan has specific prior-approval requirements.
View the lists:
- FEP Blue Focus
FEP Basic and Standard
Submit pre-authorization requests via Availity Essentials.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association© CopyrightHealth Care Service Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
File is in portable document format (PDF). To view this file, you may need to install a PDF reader program. Most PDF readers are a free download. One option is Adobe® Reader® which has a built-in screen reader. Other Adobe accessibility tools and information can be downloaded at //access.adobe.com
You are leaving this website/app ("site"). This new site may be offered by a vendor or an independent third party. The site may also contain non-Medicare related information. In addition, some sites may require you to agree to their terms of use and privacy policy.
Save time and money when you submit your claims electronically using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Learn more and enroll in EDI on our Manage electronic transactions page.
If you still need to submit paper claims, use the Claims Routing Tool to determine the correct mailing address for each member. Because claims mailing addresses are different for different Blue Plan members, using the Claims Routing Tool is the most accurate way to determine a claims mailing address.
However, if you are unable to use the Claims Routing Tool, use the current addresses listed below. Claims mailing addresses are also included in all online member eligibility results.
List of claims mailing addresses
BlueCard out-of-area program:
Check subscriber ID for three-letter prefix before sending. Learn more about the BlueCard Program.
Blue Shield of
California
P.O. Box 272630
Chico, CA 95927-2630
Phone:(800) 622-0632
CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System)
Blue Shield of California, CalPERS
P.O. Box 272540
Chico, CA 95927-2540
Phone:(800) 541-6652
Federal Employee Program (FEP)
(Subscriber ID number begins with the letter "R.")
Blue Shield of California, FEP
P.O. Box 272510
Chico, CA 95927-2510
Phone:(800) 824-8839
Short-term claims for Blue Shield Life & Health Insurance Company
Blue Shield Life & Health Insurance Company
P.O. Box 9000
London, KY 40742
Phone:(866) 510-8778
Blue Shield Medicare Advantage
Blue Shield Medicare Advantage Plan
P.O. Box
272640
Chico, Ca 95927-2640
Phone:(800) 541-6652
Fax: (818) 228-5014
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan Medicare, Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
P.O. Box 272660
Chico, CA 95926
All other Blue Shield plans
Blue Shield of California
P.O. Box 272540
Chico, CA 95927-2540
Phone:(800) 541-6652
Where to send claims for foundations for medical care
When the name of a medical foundation appears on a subscriber's identification card, the benefits for that subscriber are administered by that foundation. Forward all claims to that foundation for payment. Listed below, by county, are the addresses of medical foundations with which Blue Shield is affiliated.
Foundation for Medical Care of Tulare & Kings Counties, Inc.
Foundation for Medical Care of Tulare & Kings Counties
3335 South Fairway
Visalia, CA 93277
Phone:(800) 662-5502
Phone:(559) 734-1321
Fax: (559) 734-3828
Foundation for Medical Care of Mendocino-Lake Counties
Foundation for Medical Care of Mendocino-Lake Counties
620 S. Dora St., Suite 201
Ukiah CA 95482-5482
Phone:(707) 462-7607
Misdirected claims for HMO plan members
Claims for capitated services provided to a Blue Shield HMO member that are erroneously sent to Blue Shield for processing/payment will be forwarded to the appropriate capitated provider within 10 working days of the receipt.
Additionally, Blue Shield will send an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to the billing provider as notification that the claim was forwarded to the appropriate capitated provider.
Claims for non-capitated services provided to a Blue Shield HMO member that are erroneously submitted to the capitated IPA or Medical Group for processing are required to be forwarded by the capitated IPA or Medical Group to Blue Shield within 10 working days.