Blue Cross Blue Shield
Find network care in Tennessee
When you need health care in Tennessee or a county nearby, follow the general guidelines and take these extra steps:
*Find a network provider online at bcbst.com/members/TN_state by logging in to BlueAccess with your username and password, selecting Member Tools, then clicking on Find a Doctor. You can also look in the printed provider directory or call Member Service at 1-800-558-6213.
*Make sure a doctor is in your plan’s specific network before requesting services. Ask: “Do you participate in BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Blue Network S?”
*Ask if doctors you were referred to are in your plan’s network before getting care. Your doctor may not automatically send you to a specialist, hospital or other health care provider in your network. To avoid higher out-of-pocket costs, ask if those referred providers are in Blue Network S.
Find network care while traveling
• Anywhere in the United States, call 800-810-BLUE (2583) or visit bluecard.com.
• Anywhere outside the United States, call 800-810-BLUE (2583) toll-free or (804) 673-1177 collect, or visit bcbsglobalcore.com.
• Show your Member ID card when you get to the doctor’s office or hospital. The provider will identify your PPO plan through this symbol.
HEALTH PLAN COMPARISONS
VISION PLAN COMPARISONS
CVS/CAREMARK Pharmacy
Optum Employee Assistance Program 24/7
Telephone: 855.437.3486
2018-2019 FLU AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE COVERAGE
Members may get a free flu shot and/or pneumococcal vaccine by using:
Caremark card at a participating network pharmacy or health insurance card (BlueCross BlueShield or Cigna) at their in-network doctor’s office.
The following vaccinations are free to members of the state group insurance program:
• Injectable Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
• Intranasal Seasonal Influenza Vaccine (FluMist®) and Intradermal Flu Vaccine (short needle) and Flublok
• Injectable Seasonal Influenza High Dose (Fluzone® High Dose) Vaccine
• Adult Pneumococcal Vaccine
• Pediatric Pneumococcal Vaccine
IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR PHARMACY CARD To get the vaccines above at no charge, members must use a participating retail pharmacy. The current list of participating retail pharmacies is available at info.caremark.com/stateoftn.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR MEDICAL CARD Simply contact your in-network doctor’s office and ask if they have the vaccines. You may get the vaccination at your doctor’s office without a copay. (Note: if you are at your doctor’s office for another reason or illness when you get your shot, the doctor may charge an office visit copay.)
24/7 CARE — TELEHEALTH
You can talk to a doctor by phone or computer from anywhere, at any time.
WHEN TO USE TELEHEALTH
For non-emergency medical issues (allergies, asthma, bronchitis, cold & flu, infections, fever, ear aches, nausea, pink eye, sore throat, etc.)
• 24 hours a day, seven days a week — including nights, weekends and holidays
• Your doctor or pediatrician is unavailable
• It’s not convenient to leave your home or work
• You are traveling and need medical care
STATE-SPONSORED TELEHEALTH PROGRAM COST
• PPO Members: Copay is $15 (in-network)
• CDHP Members: You pay the negotiated rate per visit until you reach your deductible, then the primary care office visit coinsurance applies
BlueCross members
• Log into BlueAccess at bcbst.com/members/tn_state/
• Look for and select PhysicianNow
• Call 888.283.6691
Cigna members
• Log into MyCigna.com
• Look for MDLive or Amwell and select the vendor of your choice
• Call 888.726.3171 for MDLive or 855.667.9722 for Amwell
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: RETIREMENT - CERTIFIED STAFF
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) - LEGACY (Staff hired prior to July 2014):
The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a defined benefit pension plan that covers state employees, higher education employees, K-12 public school teachers, and employees of political subdivisions who have elected to participate in the plan. This means that the amount of any future retirement benefits is determined by a benefit formula rather than an account balance. All full-time teachers are covered by Group I of the retirement system as a condition of employment. As a teacher, you are required to contribute five percent of your salary to the retirement system. Contributions are made on a tax-deferred basis.
TCRS is a “defined benefit” retirement plan, which means that the amount of any future benefit will be determined by a benefit formula rather than by an account balance. In most cases, the amount of the benefit will be affected by three factors: your length of service, your final average salary, and the social security integration level in the year you retire or die.
- Average Final Compensation (AFC) — The AFC is the average of your five highest consecutive years of salary. The benefit payable at retirement cannot exceed 94.5 percent of your average final compensation.
- Creditable Service — Creditable service means membership service under the TCRS plus any other periods of service credited to you by the retirement system. Service credit may be accrued for full-time service as a state employee, as a public school teacher in Tennessee, or as an employee of certain local governments in Tennessee.
Website: http://treasury.state.tn.us/tcrs/
Ph: 1 (800) 922.7772
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Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) - HYBRID PENSION PLAN (Staff hired after to July 2014):
The Hybrid Plan provides a combination of a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. The defined benefit portion of the Hybrid Plan will be managed by TCRS. The defined contribution assets will be deposited into the state’s 401(k) plan where you will manage the investments within the 401(k) plan. As a state employee, higher education employee or public school teacher, you are required to contribute 5% of your salary to the defined benefit portion of Hybrid Plan. Contributions are made on a tax-deferred basis.
Website: https://participant.empower-retirement.com/participant/#/login
Ph: 1 (800) 701.8255
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: RETIREMENT - CLASSIFIED STAFF
