What Is Blue Cross Tradition Plus?

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a consortium of 39 independent health-care companies. The Empire Blue Cross TraditionPlus program provides health insurance in the form of hospitalization coverage for the residents of New York state. This hospital health plan covers the insured and their dependents for a full year.

Identification

• If you are admitted to a hospital due to an accident or injury, your hospital visit and the medical services rendered while in the hospital are covered by the Blue Cross TraditionPlus plan. This plan does not provide routine medical services. It can not be used for well-care visits, prescriptions and x-rays, unless those services are performed in a hospital and are administered by a physician or technician who is an employee of the hospital.

Eligibility

• Adults between the ages of 18 and 65 that are not eligible for a group health insurance plan can enroll in the Empire Blue Cross TraditionPlus plan. The coverage extends to dependent children under the age of 19. Recipients of Medicare are not eligible for the TraditionPlus plan.

Benefits

• The Plus plan provides you with full hospital coverage, including laboratory and diagnostic tests, as long as the physicians and technicians are employees of the hospital. For individuals that are not eligible for group plan policies, the Plus plan is more affordable than purchasing an individual Blue Cross Blue Shield policy that can cost up to 80% more, according to Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Types

• Emergency room services that are billed by the hospital for the treatment of an accidental injury are covered in full by your contract. This includes the emergency room fee and any emergency services performed by the hospital's employees. If you receive separate bills from physicians, radiologists or pathologists not employed by the hospital, they are considered medical services and are not covered under your contract.

Significance

• The Blue Cross TraditionPlus hospital plan covers outpatient surgical facility charges and pre-admission testing. During a hospital stay, semi-private room and board are paid in full by the plan. Hospital equipment and supplies are also covered by the plan. Maternity care in birthing centers or hospitals, care for newborns in the hospital for up to 30 days and physical therapy and rehabilitation for up to 30 days are also covered.