BasicBlue Plans
As of 2010, BCBSIL no longer offers the Basic Blue Plan
BasicBlue Overview
Our Rating: 
BasicBlue provides basic coverage at the lowest price. It provides coverage for hospitalization, surgery, testing and emergency medical services, but does not cover outpatient doctor office visits and prescriptions. BasicBlue is a good choice for those seeking the lowest cost, but needing coverage for health services most likely to involve catastrophic expenses.
Key BasicBlue® plan features include:
- Inpatient hospitalization services
- Outpatient diagnostic testing for same-day emergency surgery
- Your choice of a $500, $1,000 or $2,500 annual deductible for individuals (3x for families)
- 20% coinsurance
- Optional dental coverage
- Unlimited lifetime maximum
BasicBlue® may be right for you if you are an individual or family who:
- Are healthy
- Do not regularly visit a doctor
- Don't usually take prescription medication
- Want a safety net for unanticipated hospitalization expenses
Learn more about valuable member services and features you get when you join the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois family.
BasicBlue Costs
Health insurance costs include monthly premium payments, individual/family deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, copayments, and coinsurance. Here is what you can expect with BasicBlue® plans:
- Individual in-network deductibles options of $500, $1,000, or $2,500 – customize your plan by choosing a deductible amount that works best for your situation
- You pay 20% coinsurance of covered services in-network, after deductible is met
- Annual out-of-pocket maximum of $1,000 for individuals and $3,000 for families
What's Included with BasicBlue®
- Coverage for major hospital expenses incurred as a result of a covered accident or sickness
- Coverage is provided for daily hospital room and board, miscellaneous hospital services, surgical services, anesthesia services, in-hospital medical services, and out-of-hospital care
- Although you can go to the hospital or doctor of your choice, your benefits under a BasicBlue® plan will be higher, and your costs lower, when you use the services of participating PPO or BlueChoice® providers.
Prescription Drug Coverage
For the BasicBlue plans, prescription drugs are not covered.
Plan Renewals
Your BCBSIL policy can ONLY be terminated for the following reasons:
- Failure to pay
- The plan is discontinued (90 days notice given with an option to convert to any plan we offer)
- Discovery of fraud or an intentional misrepresentation of facts (30 days prior written notice given)
- If you no longer reside, live or work in an area where we are authorized to do business
BasicBlue® Limits
Every insurance plan has limitations. These limits are there to keep health care costs down for everyone. A pre-existing condition is just one example of a plan limitation. For example:
- A pre-existing condition may limit or exclude your participation in a plan.
- This means your health care expenses related to that specific condition will not be covered by the plan during the specified time.
It's important to know the limitations of your health plan. For a list of exclusions and limitations, see the benefit summary.
Add-ons and Plan Options
The maternity option is not available with the BasicBlue plans. If this is an important benefit for you, it is available with all individual plans except BasicBlue and SelectTemp PPO.
Optional Dental Coverage
- Covers cleanings, check-ups and other preventive procedures immediately – no waiting period
- One of the highest maximum benefit amounts available - up to $1,500 per person per year
- Up to 20 percent discount for orthodontic services at participating providers
- Learn more about optional dental coverage