Blue Cross Blue Shield is not one company, which is why this question is more confusing than it should be. This page sorts out which card you are holding and what it means here.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is an association of independent companies, each serving its own region, all using the same name and the same familiar shield. There is no single national Blue Cross.
In Virginia, the Blue Cross company is Anthem. In Maryland and Washington DC it is CareFirst. Other states have their own. On top of that sit programs that use the Blue Cross network without being a state company at all, like the Federal Employee Program for federal workers and BlueCard for members traveling or living outside their home state.
The practical upshot is that "do you take Blue Cross Blue Shield" has a longer answer than yes or no. For this practice the answer is yes across all the common cases, but which page below applies depends on what is printed on your card.
Pick the description that matches and go to the page written for it.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia
The most common case. Employer coverage, individual plans, HealthKeepers, KeyCare, BlueChoice, Pathway, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage are all included. See the Anthem page, which lists every plan accepted.
Federal employee or retiree
If your card says Service Benefit Plan, FEP, Standard Option, Basic Option, or Blue Focus, you are on the federal plan. See the Federal Employee Program page.
Virginia state employee or public university staff
The Commonwealth of Virginia plan is administered by Anthem. See the COVA page.
Public school or local government employee
The Local Choice covers many Virginia school divisions and localities, also administered by Anthem. See The Local Choice page.
Blue Cross from a different state
Through BlueCard, a plan from Maryland, DC, or anywhere else can often be used in network here. See the out-of-state page.
Coverage details differ by plan, but the services themselves do not.
Yes. Alice Tran Psychiatric Care is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield in Virginia, including Anthem, HealthKeepers, KeyCare, the Federal Employee Program, the Commonwealth of Virginia plan, The Local Choice, and out-of-state plans through BlueCard.
Anthem is the Blue Cross Blue Shield company for Virginia. Blue Cross Blue Shield is an association of independent regional companies rather than a single insurer, so the name on your card depends on which state issued your plan.
Usually yes, if your plan is a PPO. CareFirst is the Blue Cross company for Maryland and Washington DC, and the BlueCard program lets those benefits travel with you into Virginia. Call the number on your card and ask about out-of-state outpatient behavioral health.
On most Blue Cross plans, no referral is required for outpatient behavioral health. HMO products and some federal options have their own rules, so it is worth a quick call to confirm.
Look at the front of your card. The company name appears at the top, the plan name is usually beneath it, and a suitcase symbol indicates BlueCard eligibility. If it is still unclear, call the number on the back and ask them to name your plan.
That depends on your specific plan and where you are in your deductible, which is why no figure is published here. Call the number on your card, ask specifically about outpatient behavioral health, and you will have an exact answer in a few minutes.
Whichever Blue Cross card you hold, you are probably already covered here.
In network with Anthem, HealthKeepers, KeyCare, the Federal Employee Program, COVA, The Local Choice, and out-of-state BlueCard plans.
If you are in crisis right now, please do not wait for an appointment.
Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free, confidential, available 24/7.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Alice Tran Psychiatric Care does not operate 24/7 and does not provide crisis services. Emails, voicemails, text or portal messages are typically responded to within 24 to 72 business hours.