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Business Profile

Insurance Companies

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

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Complaints

Customer Complaints Summary

  • 68 total complaints in the last 3 years.
  • 25 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

If you've experienced an issue

Submit a Complaint

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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Complaint status

Complaint type

  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/30/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I have extensive genetic issues. This neck surgery is a new procedure done by 1 surgeon in the **. The muscles in my neck are deformed causing chronic pain/lack of mobility. The hope is this surgery would improve my quality of life/mobility in multiple ways. I'd been working with a BCBS agent since 2021 to get the surgery preauthorized. He didn't do his job properly, which his supervisor at **** was notified of & should be able to verify. Because of this, I have spent 3 years fighting to get reimbursed for this surgery that insurance should have & WOULD have covered (as I was told by a BCBS agent) had he done his job properly from the beginning. When I tried getting information from ************** he refused to respond to me until I stated I would be filing complaints that he finally responded.I have been shuffled between ****************** offices for ********** claim continues to be dismissed & denied because one man failed to do his job at the very beginning & now no one knows what to do with my claim because it is all happening AFTER the fact &, as several employees have stated, "it wouldn't have been an issue if we had talked to you BEFORE your surgery, but since it's already happened we don't know how to help you."When my claim was denied I tried to appeal it & yet another BCBS staff member failed to do their job. *********************************** was assigned my case. She sent me an initial email requesting documentation. I responded expeditiously with the requested items, but never heard back. I followed up multiple times, but still never heard back. Once again, I stated that if she failed to respond I would be forced to file complaints for her failure to properly do her job. Still she failed to respond to me directly, but instead chose to pretend to process the claim, but did so without even bothering to read the file. She started requesting information from the doctors office for a procedure that I wasnt even requesting reimbursement for.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/08/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Before an appt, I called FEP BCBS and spoke to ********************************, BSN, CCM, Office: ************| Fax: ************ to request an in-network physician. ******************** provided ********** as in-network doctor. The appt was 9-23-2023. Since then, BCBS has not paid for the insurance portion. At first, BCBS sent me a check for $51.73 and when they determined it was an in-network doctor, they requested the payment back. I include copy of my check. It took me all this time to get the other two transactions on my bill fixed. ********** is an in-network doctor and as such, the insurance needs to pay it's part and has been having the doctor's ****** and me wait for them to process the insurance claims and continues to not pay its portion.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 05/08/2024

    This was provided by BCBS to show ********** was an in-network physician.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:05/02/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I am a U.S. *************** Officer and was a client of Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program from 2006 to January 1, 2024. On July 30, 2023 I was hiking in ****** (where I am stationed). I fell and broke my leg. I had a spiral fracture that required surgery. On July 30, I was rescued by helicopter and flown to the nearest hospital in a city called *****. Since my injury was so severe, the doctor stabilized me and my leg and I was transported via an airplane ambulance to **** (where I live). I was admitted to a hospital called *******************************************. I was admitted from August 1-7. I had surgery for internal fixation on August 2. I submitted all of my medical bills and proof of payment for the stay in *****, my PT, and my surgery in ***********************.BCBS issued an EOB for my stay in ***** within the expected time frame, less than 30 days and reimbursed me. They also covered all of the follow up appointments and PT. However, as of May 2, ***************************************** completed processing my claim for the surgery in ***********************. BCBS Number: R59379927 Amount Requested for Reimbursement: $10,218.72.I've received several requests for information which I've promptly responded to. This includes all available information from the hospital and my discharge papers. I submitted everything through the portal on the website and more recently by email. I no longer have access to the fepblue.org website. This means I can not use the chat feature to communicate with customer service or have access to my EOBs. (I have downloaded them previously). When I call, I am usually transferred from person to person multiple times. I have communicated with two employees in the ******************** and GeoBlue via email. GeoBlue employees, who process overseas claims, have explained that my request was previously handled by GMMI, another company which no longer works with BCBS. Tha past few times I've called or emailed, they don't answer, or just say that it is being processed.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/30/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    On April 6, **************************************** that I had no health insurance. I called Fepblue to see what was going on and they said my ex husband took me off the insurance because I got divorced. I said ok but can you please send me a letter stating that I am no longer insured they said yes of course and that it would take 7/ 10 days. I waited and call them back because I havent received the letter which I need to pick up health insurance through me employer they gave me 30 days and I am running out of time. My member number is R59323519 please help me. I also have a written court agreement where that he was going to keep my health insurance.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/26/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I am a Veteran,use to be a federal employee for more than 20 years,have to retire but keep Blue Croos Blue Shield for federal employee in my pension or OPM more because my wife got rheumatoid arthritis.In 2024 my wife get ******************************************** September 2023 to know what I have to do to cancel the health insurance,because I was paying like 500 a month only receiving net 200 and something here we are a couple living of social security and little of a pension .They told me I have to write a letter and when they receive a letter the end of that month they don't going to cover no more,mean they receive it in october 2023,November and December 2023 don't going to be cover,I let my wife know because ******** going to kick in January 2024.In October my wife get a message medication was ready,she went to pharmacy to let them know is no more insurance but they told her was aprove,pharmacy insist was ok,she pay deductible that was October 17,2024.In April around 24 I got a letter from BCBS that I owe 934.76,I call BCBS they told me that is what they pay a pharmacy,that was approve because took till December to let pharmacy know,my wife went to the pharmacy with a letter,the medication was 3 pack of eye drops and she have 2 unopened, the pharmacist try to discard the 2 she bring to him,but say was to late computer don't let him go that far on time was 5 month and more that took BCBS to let me know.Right now my wife use same medication and pay 40 for 2 pack with ********.Is no fair I have to pay big money for medication could be unapprove or let pharmacy on time.I send a check to BCBS only give 30 days I have excellent credit,was afraid late payment.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:04/03/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I am a retired military officer and a Federal civil service retiree insured under the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal Employee Program. In addition to paying Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance premiums for me and my wife, I also pay ******** premiums for me and my wife as well. Because we pay both premiums, my wife and I are *********** claim a ******** Reimbursement of $800 for both myself and my wife totalling $1600 each year. Blue Cross/Blue Shield hired HealthEquity and wageworks as 3rd party administrators to manage the ******** Reimbursement claim program on behalf of Blue Cross/Blue Shield.I filed the necessary ******** Reimbursement claim forms for my wife and I on February 21, 2024 to HealthEquity (P.O. Box *****, *********, ** *****). I have received several emails claiming the amounts due have been paid, buy neither my wife nor I have received any ******** reimbursements at this date. I have contacted HealthEquity at its ************ customer service on March 18 and March 25, 2024 to no avail, after numerous dropped calls and a 40 minute wait time. On March 25th, I was given case no. ******** and case no. ********, and to call back after 10 business days to see "if the case numbers were being processed". I was then told by the HealthEquity call center operator to wait an additional 10 business days to see if I had received any reimbursements. I tried contacting Blue Cross/Blue Shield at its ************ call center, but was told to contact HealthEquity about reimbursement problems.I find this charade to be negligent mismanagement by the 3rd party administrators with Blue Cross/Blue Shield acting as an accomplice in purposely delaying and stalling reimbursement payments rightfully due Federal retirees. These delays have created an annual financial hardship for my wife and I. In 2023, after constant phone calls, it took Health Equity from January 19, 2023 to July 2023 to make the mandatory reimbursement payments.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:03/22/2024

    Type:Billing Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    BCBS FEP has incorrectly processed my claim for dental care received on 11/30/23 and owes me a reimbursement for covered services that I paid for out-of-pocket. BCBS continues to incorrectly process the claim as if I had an FEHB medical policy at the time, which would have been the primary payer. But I did NOT have an FEHB medical policy on 11/30/23, which makes BCBS is the primary payer.I have communicated this to BCBS customer service over the phone and chat on multiple occasions. Most recently, BCBS assured me that they would resubmit the claim and correct the error. However, instead of correcting the error, BCBS rejected the resubmitted claim as a duplicate. I have received NO reimbursement for the $265 I paid out-of-pocket.I have been waiting for reimbursement for 4 months and this claim has been processed incorrectly multiple times. I need BCBS to call me and resolve this situation ASAP.
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/16/2024

    Type:Order Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    I have a prior authorization that is pending with Dr. ************************ *** is denying the prior authorization saying there is no diagnostic work up for infertility. However, all of my clinical noting this have been sent over to *** from my doctor. Also, on the *** portal, *** has infertility as one of my diagnosis. I am getting then run around and need for the prior authorization to be approved so I can have my treatment. *** is delaying the process. Also, there are two claims for Coopergeonomic that I am waiting to be processed. My doctor sent over all necessary documents required by ***. My doctor has a fax confirmation noting this from 2/9. However, *** is saying they did not receive. My doctor sent the required notes a second time. I need for the prior authorization to be approved and for my claims to be processed.

    Customer Answer

    Date: 02/22/2024


    ***************************
    219 ********************
    *******, ** 29662
    Mobile ************

    Re: R59801949
    Case Number 2403123112513

    Dear ***,

    I am writing to dispute the denial and request reconsideration for prior authorization for infertility treatment, which I am entitled to under the Standard *** plan.

    I note that a board certified ophthalmology reviewed my case for preauthorization and that this doctor is NOT an expert in infertility treatment. He is not a fertility specialist. I have had a well documented diagnosis of infertility for over 10 years. Dr. ************************ my treating physician, has sent medical records supporting this to ***.  It is confirmed by history. Further, the *** portal even notes my diagnosis of infertility. The denial decision is not consistent with the Service Benefit plan brochure. I ask that my prior authorization be approved without delay as my treatment is time sensitive.

    Thank you,

    *******************;

    cc: *** and BBB
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:02/08/2024

    Type:Customer Service Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    Bcbs employees do not give the same answers. They lie. They give out miss information and delay the approval of much needed medication. They do not want to approve zepbound for weight loss and are trying everything possible to deny requests. They go around and around on the forms needed and I truly think they want people to give up and say forgot it. I have experienced stress and anxiety trying to get to the bottom of what I need. They say they will call back then say they cant make outbound calls. Very hard to get a hold of them. Employees need training and should know their job
  • Initial Complaint

    Date:01/23/2024

    Type:Service or Repair Issues
    Status:
    UnansweredMore info

    Complaint statuses

    Resolved:
    The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
    Unresolved:
    The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
    Answered:
    The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
    Unanswered:
    The business failed to respond to the dispute.
    Unpursuable:
    BBB is unable to locate the business.
    FEP BLUE SHIELD BLUE CROSS changed my secondary insurance prescription coverage without my knowledge or permission to **** FEP ******** Prescription Drug Program. When I went to pick up my prescription under this new coverage I was told by the pharmacy I could only get 30 days (I used to get 90 days) and it tripled in price. I did not pick up the prescription because I wanted to talk to BCBS, ********, and my medical provider to see what was going on. Now I am currently out of my thyroid which you aren't supposed to do. I had to disenroll to return to the original coverage I had with FEP BCBS and they said it would not be effective until January 31, ****. When I retired in 2018 I was assigned ******** as my primary and I chose FEP BCBS as my secondary. How dare BCBS enroll me in this prescription program without my knowledge.This is WRONG and fraudulent in my opinion.

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