How To Read Blue Cross Insurance Card

A health savings account is a tax-advantaged savings account that can be funded by individuals whose only health care coverage is a qualified high deductible health plan . An HSA is an alternative way for you to pay for your qualified health care expenses and save for future qualified health care expenses on a tax-free basis. Expenses such as out-of-pocket costs for office visits, prescription drugs, dental expenses and laboratory tests may be paid for from your HSA. Under the last-month rule, if you are an eligible individual on the first day of the last month of your tax year , you are considered an eligible individual for the entire year. You are treated as having the same high-deductible health plan coverage for the entire year as you had on the first day of that last month.

The total contribution for the year can be made in one or more payments at any time up to your tax-filing deadline . However, if you wish to have a contribution made between January 1 and April 15 treated as a contribution for the preceding tax year, please contact the HSA bank. Once funds are deposited into your HSA, those funds can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free, even if you no longer have high-deductible health plan coverage. The funds in your account automatically roll over each year and remain in the account indefinitely until used.

Once you discontinue coverage under a high-deductible health plan and/or get coverage under another health plan that disqualifies you from an HSA, you can no longer make contributions to your HSA. However, since you own the HSA, you can continue to use it for future qualified medical expenses. To enroll in a high-deductible health plan, complete the Blue KC application process. The Blue-Saver® PPO health insurance plan is a high-deductible health plan that allows you to establish an HSA as part of your health benefits.

When you enroll in the Blue Saver plan, you may be offered the opportunity to establish a HSA with one of our preferred banks. You will be presented with appropriate banking authorizations and disclosures necessary for Blue KC to work with the bank that will establish your HSA. Please note all financial institutions offering HSA products must comply with the USA Patriot Act, requiring your HSA bank to collect and verify information about you when processing your HSA application.

Once your HSA has been established, you will be mailed a welcome kit and HSA debit card from the bank. You cannot use HSA funds to pay for qualified medical expenses incurred before you enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. In order to establish an HSA, you must enroll in a high-deductible health plan. Your eligibility to contribute to an HSA is determined by the effective date of your high-deductible health plan coverage. A Health Savings Account allows members enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan to contribute funds on a tax-free basis into the member's account.

These funds are used for payment of qualified medical expenses as defined by the IRS. Unused funds in an HSA roll over in the member's account at the end of each calendar year. To change a PCP, log in and visit you Profile by clicking on the icon by your name in the top right corner of your homepage. In the Coverage Information section you'll see a list of covered members for your Blue KC policy.

From here select "Change PCP" for the appropriate member and you can search for and designate a new PCP. Once we have processed your PCP change request, we will send you a new member ID card that contains the information of your newly selected PCP. You may also call the Customer Service number listed on your member ID card to change your PCP. Please note that if you have health insurance through your employer, you may be required to contact your group benefits administrator to change your PCP. This federal mandate applies to all individual policies, fully insured group health plans and both ERISA and non-ERISA self-funded groups, where the state law does not apply. Coordination of benefits is the process used when a member has two health insurance plans.

This process allows the two plans to work together getting you the most out of your coverage. The second plan becomes your secondary plan, which may pay toward the remaining cost, depending on the plan. Understanding which plan is your primary and which plan is your secondary is important to help prevent delays in claims processing. If you're an HMO member, you will need to receive services from an in-network HMO provider. However, you will be able to receive emergency or urgent care services no matter where you are. For details about your coverage, please review your Blue KC certificate, which outlines the benefits and exclusions related to your health insurance plan.

You can view your certificate by logging in and accessing the Plan Benefit section. There are two times you can make a change to your enrollment options. Your employer schedules an open enrollment period once a calendar year when all employees may make changes to their health insurance plan.

You may also make a change during a special enrollment period if you acquire a new dependent or if your coverage is terminated under another health insurance plan. If you have health insurance through an employer, your group benefits administrator, typically someone in your Human Resources department, can help you make changes to your health insurance plan. If you do not have health insurance through an employer and instead pay your monthly premiums directly to Blue KC, call the Customer Service number listed on your member ID card.

The maximum amount that may be contributed to your HSA for any year is a certain amount established annually by the IRS. This amount depends on whether you have individual or family coverage under your qualified high-deductible health plan. The same annual contribution limit applies regardless of whether the contributions are made by an employee, an employer or both. A qualified health-deductible health plan is a health plan with an annual deductible for an individual or a family that meet the minimum deductible amount published annually by the U.S.

The annual out-of-pocket expenses required by the high-deductible health plan also does not exceed the out-of-pocket maximums published by the U.S. Out-of-pocket expenses include deductibles, copayments and other amounts the member must pay for, but do not include premiums or amounts incurred for non-covered benefits. You can continue to use the funds in your account tax-free for out-of-pocket health expenses. If you enroll in Medicare, you can use your account to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance under any part of Medicare. If you have retiree health benefits through your former employer, you can also use your account to pay for your share of retiree medical insurance premiums. The one expense you cannot use your account for is to purchase a Medicare supplement insurance or "Medigap" policy.

Distributions used for any other purpose are includable in income and may also be subject to an additional 20 percent tax. This 20-percent penalty tax does not apply to distributions made after your death, disability or attainment of age 65. Each payment you make for covered healthcare services you've received from your providers such as a physical exam counts toward your deductible. Once Blue KC processes the claims we receive from your providers showing the payments that you have made for covered healthcare services, we apply those payments toward your deductible. A deductible is the amount that you are responsible for paying annually for healthcare services. Exceptions are outlined in your Blue KC certificate, which lists the exclusions related to your health insurance plan.

Allowable charges are the maximum amount payable to you under your health insurance plan for a particular service. Contracted providers have agreed to accept this amount as payment in full. For example, if the provider charges $100 for a service and Blue KC pays $80 as the allowable charge, the provider cannot ask the member to pay the remaining $20.

Keep in mind, however, that some health insurance plans have coinsurance. In those cases, members are required to pay a percentage of the allowable charge. For specific details about your plan, review your Blue KC certificate, which outlines your payment responsibility. Your children's coverage while they are away from home depends on the type of health insurance plan you have. If you have health insurance through your employer, check with your group benefits administrator for more information. Sometimes providers send statements to their patients before Blue KC has finished processing and paying the claim.

If the provider you saw is out-of-network you will be responsible for paying the provider directly. We will send you a payment for the amount that is covered by your plan. You can view your EOBs and details about your claims, including how much you owe, by logging in and visiting the Claims and Usage section.

You might see a note on the bill that says "Insurance Pending." We will send you an Explanation of Benefits once we have processed your claim. If you are still unsure if you owe the provider, call their billing office. Please note, if your provider was not in the Blue KC HMO network, you will be responsible for paying all services and fees for seeing that provider. We recommend you call to make an appointment with your PCP as soon as you can. A checkup now will help your PCP learn about your medical history before any health issues occur.

Getting a checkup now will help your PCP learn about your medical history before any health issues occur. A copayment, or copay, is the dollar amount that you pay to a provider at the time you receive a service. For example, you might pay a $30 copay each time you visit your allergy doctor. The copay amount is defined in your Blue KC certificate, which outlines your responsibilities for health insurance plan payments. If you have health insurance through your employer, check with your group benefits administrator to have a dependent added to your plan. He or she has the information and/or forms you need to add your dependent to your health insurance plan.

Diagrams in the "Sample ID Cards" section of this chapter show how to quickly locate key coverage details and contact information. Give the following article a thorough read to find out how to read a blue cross blue shield insurance card. If you forget or aren't sure what type of health insurance plan you have , you can find out on your BCBS ID card. If you have an HMO, your card may also list the physician or group you've selected for primary care.

Determining whether a provider is in-network is an important part of choosing a primary care physician. BlueCard is a national program that enables Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska members to obtain in-network services while traveling or living in another state. The program links participating health care providers with Blue Plans across the country and internationally through a single electronic network for claims processing and reimbursement.

Facilities are defined as a general acute hospital, satellite emergency department or ambulatory surgical center licensed pursuant to the Health Care Facility Licensure Act. Effective Jan. 1, 2021, providers in Nebraska may not balance bill patients for medical care received from out-of-network providers or facilities in emergency situations. This state mandate applies to all fully insured plans and non-ERISA groups.

After the funds in your PCA have been used, you will be responsible for a certain amount of your healthcare costs until your deductible amount has been met. You do have the benefit of the negotiated prices for healthcare from network providers, but you will pay for all of the healthcare until your individual or family deductible is met. In addition, excess contributions are subject to a six-percent excise tax. Rollover contributions do not count in determining whether an excess contribution has been made. Use your HSA debit card or other means provided by your HSA bank to pay for qualified medical expenses.

You should only use the debit card at healthcare-related locations. This may include an Internet transaction as long as the items being purchased are qualified medical expenses. You may also use your HSA debit card for online capabilities such as online bill pay. Yes, funds may be withdrawn and used to pay for qualified medical expenses for you and/or your tax dependent without a tax penalty. For purposes of medical deductible of a child of divorced or separated parents, they can be treated as a dependent of both parents.

Each parent can include the medical expenses he or she pays for the child, even if the other parent claims the child's dependency exemption. Please consult a legal or tax adviser concerning questions you may have. Billed charges are the amount charged or billed by your healthcare provider for the services/supplies you received. Not all provider charges will be paid by your health insurance plan. When you see an out-of-network provider, we send a check to you for the covered amount of those services. We will send you an EOB that explains how that amount was calculated.

After you enroll in a private health plan and pay your first month's premium, you will receive a membership package with your insurance card and summary of benefits and coverage detailed information. Routine Preventive care is a care benefit that is not subject to a deductible. Your PersonalBlue health insurance plan includes a prescription drug coverage plan with set copayments for both generic and brand name prescription drugs. The PCA portion of your plan cannot be used to reimburse you for these copayments. Once your PCA funds are exhausted and the remainder of your deductible has been met, your health insurance plan will start paying.

A majority of in-network expenses will be covered by your health insurance plan. Once your out-of-pocket maximum has been met, your health insurance plan pays 100% of your covered expenses. A Primary Care Physician is the physician you choose to be your primary source for medical care. Your PCP coordinates all your medical care and knows your specific health history.

You can designate a physician who specializes in family practice, general practice, internal medicine or pediatrics and is in your network as your PCP. Each dependent on your health insurance plan will also need a designed PCP. Everyone on your health insurance plan may have a different PCP.

Yes, you must pay your copayment when you see your in-network provider. Your copayment amount depends on the health insurance plan you have and the services you are receiving from your provider. Your BCBS ID card has your member number, and in some cases, your employer group number.

Your member number, also known as your identification number, is listed directly below your name. You'll need this information when receiving medical services at the doctor or pharmacy, or when calling customer service for assistance. If your group number is available, you'll find it directly below your member number. Your card contains key information about your health insurance coverage that is required when you need care or pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. Keeping your card in a secure location will also help protect you from medical identity theft. Members can login to myNebraskaBlue to access cost estimates and cost comparisons for a variety of treatments and services.

By logging in, your benefits will be applied to the estimate so you can see costs based on your benefit plan (copay, deductible, coinsurance, etc.). Many people are insured under more than one health and/or dental insurance plan at the same time. Because of dual insurance, Medicare Secondary Plans and Coordination of Benefit requirements, Blue KC needs to determine primary insurance based on the facts of each situation. Most health insurance and dental plans include a COB provision that defines these requirements.

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Windows 11 Upgrade Size From Windows 10

Warren noted that he rarely used the Widgets panel or Microsoft Teams, citing that he preferred the weather display that later versions of Windows 10 offered, and didn't use Teams to communicate with his friends and family. He also acknowledged the expansion of Microsoft Store to include more "traditional" desktop applications. Overall, he concluded that "I wouldn't rush out to upgrade to Windows 11, but I also wouldn't avoid it. After all, Windows 11 still feels familiar and underneath all the UI changes, it's the same Windows we've had for decades."

Cunningham concluded that "as I've dug into and learned its ins and outs for this review, I've warmed to it more", but argued that the OS was facing similar "public perception" issues to Windows Vista and Windows 8. Internet Explorer has been replaced by the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as the default web browser, and Microsoft Teams is integrated into the Windows shell. Microsoft also announced plans to allow more flexibility in software that can be distributed via Microsoft Store, and to support Android apps on Windows 11 .

If your existing Windows 10 PC is running Windows 10 20H1 or later and meets the minimum hardware specificationsit will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized, but for most devices already in use today, we expect it to be ready sometime in early 2022. Not all Windows 10 PCs that are eligible to upgrade will be offered to upgrade at the same time. To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to our knowledge base for a list of tested systems.

Once the upgrade rollout has started, you can check if it is ready for your device by going to Settings/Windows Updates. Similar to how end users are notified when updates are available in Windows 10, end users will see an indication in the notification areas of the taskbar in the bottom right, that the upgrade is available. More information on how that is presented will be available at a later date. Additional desktop notification options may be also be added at a later date. Original equipment manufacturers can still ship computers without a TPM 2.0 coprocessor upon Microsoft's approval. Some third-party software may refuse to run on unsupported configurations of Windows 11.

At least 16GB of RAM The basic system requirements of Windows 11 differ significantly from Windows 10. Windows 11 only supports 64-bit systems such as those using an x86-64 or ARM64 processor; IA-32 processors are no longer supported. Thus, Windows 11 is the first ever consumer version of Windows not to support 32-bit processors and 16-bit software .

The minimum RAM and storage requirements were also increased; Windows 11 now requires at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The compatibility list includes the Intel Core i7-7820HQ, a seventh-generation processor used by the Surface Studio 2, although only on devices that shipped with DCH-based drivers. In October 2019, Microsoft announced "Windows 10X", a future edition of Windows 10 designed exclusively for dual-touchscreen devices such as the then-upcoming Surface Neo.

Legacy Windows applications would also be required to run in "containers" to ensure performance and power optimization. Microsoft stated that it planned to release Windows 10X devices by the end of 2020. If you are having a brand new laptop or PC, then your system must be compatible with Windows 11 or even might come with it preinstalled.

But issues may arise with the older versions of PCs, as its hardware might not match with the requirements of Windows 11. If your PC has a 7th gen or previous Intel CPU, then it is unsupported by the latest upgrade. Still, you can migrate to Windows 11, but the way is a little more complicated as you will need to download install files, then perform a clean install and then restore the program and data files.

A redesigned user interface is present frequently throughout the operating system, building upon Fluent Design System; translucency, shadows, a new color palette, and rounded geometry are prevalent throughout the UI. A prevalent aspect of the design is an appearance known as "Mica", described as an "opaque, dynamic material that incorporates theme and desktop wallpaper to paint the background of long-lived windows such as apps and settings". With Windows 11, we are focused on increasing security, improving reliability, and ensuring compatibility.

As part of the minimum system requirements, Windows 11 only runs on devices with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security coprocessor. According to Microsoft, the TPM 2.0 coprocessor is a "critical building block" for protection against firmware and hardware attacks. In addition, Microsoft now requires devices with Windows 11 to include virtualization-based security , hypervisor-protected code integrity , and Secure Boot built-in and enabled by default.

The operating system also features hardware-enforced stack protection for supported Intel and AMD processors for protection against zero-day exploits. Citing security considerations, the system requirements for Windows 11 were increased over Windows 10. While the OS can be installed on unsupported processors, Microsoft does not guarantee the availability of updates. Windows 11 also drops support for 32-bit x86 CPUs and devices which use BIOS firmware. Windows 11 SE was announced on November 9, 2021, as an edition exclusively for low-end devices sold in the education market, and a successor to Windows 10 S.

It is bundled with applications such as Microsoft Office for Microsoft 365, Minecraft Education Edition, and Flipgrid, while OneDrive is used to save files by default. Windows 11 SE does not include Microsoft Store; third-party software is provisioned or installed by administrators. Perhaps the most important thing to know about the release of Windows 11 is that we should expect it to change significantly over the next few years.

I've been using beta versions of Windows 11 for a month in the lead-up to writing this review, and it seems like every few days there's a minor new feature or redesigned app to check out. We may not see that feature fully realized in Windows until next year. The second feature here is DirectStorage that promises to greatly enhance the gaming experience by cutting downloading times of games.

This appears to be an extension of the attempts being made by Microsoft with the Xbox Series X/S consoles where it has used clever tricks to greatly improve load times of games. However, do note that this feature will only be available on select games that support DirectStorage API on a PC with an NVMe SSD and a GPU that supports DirectX12 Ultimate. If you still need more disk space, open Windows settings, choose Apps, then Apps & Features, and sort the list of installed apps by size to show you which programs are hogging the most disk space. The clients that you upgrade must be at BigFix version 9.2.5 or later.

In-place upgrade installs Windows 10/11 without previously removing the older version of the operating system on the client computer. The process automatically maintains existing settings, programs, and data. Before you begin the in-place upgrade, it is best practice to back up your systems. As we release to Windows Insiders and partner with our OEMs, we will test to identify devices running on Intel 7th generation and AMD Zen 1 that may meet our principles. We're committed to sharing updates with you on the results of our testing over time, as well as sharing additional technical blogs. Windows 11 is here, though it remains an optional upgrade for anyone on existing desktops and laptops that are eligible for it.

New PCs will increasingly begin shipping with Windows 11 pre-installed, so adoption rates will gradually rise in 2022 and beyond. If you're tempted to try Windows 11 on a supported PC you own, or will purchase a new machine with Microsoft's latest OS soon, you may be wondering if and how it will affect performance with the apps you use every day. The short answer is no, Microsoft isn't going to force anyone to upgrade to Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, the Redmond firm stopped forcing people to install feature updates. This came after a disastrous Windows 10 version 1809 that actually deleted some users' files. Cleaning install Windows 11 will remove all files, settings, and apps on your computer. So, the storage usage of drive C after Windows 11 clean install is the closest to the Windows 11 size. If you right-click on the taskbar, you now see just one option that lets you enter the taskbar settings, instead of the plethora of options in previous versions of Windows.

However, this means you cannot reposition the taskbar to either side or the top of your screen anymore with Windows 11, which is kind of a bummer. The Start button follows all the new design fundamentals of Windows 11 with rounded corners, colourful icons, pinned apps, and a huge search bar. The search button feels more useful and responsive compared to Windows 10's version. If you hover over the icon, it will show you your most recent searches, which could save you some time. If you don't see the notification, it is likely because Windows 11 is not fully compatible with your hardware and software configuration.

In this case, it's not recommended to proceed with the upgrade using other methods, such as the Installation Assistant or ISO file, because you may come across errors and problems. For example, soon after the October 5 release, Microsoft listed at least three known issues on Windows 11 that are preventing certain devices from upgrading. You can use the PC Health Check app to determine if your device is eligible to upgrade to New Windows. Many PCs that are less than four years old will be able to upgrade to New Windows.

They must be running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware requirements. In January 2021, it was reported that a job listing referring to a "sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows" had been posted by Microsoft. A visual refresh for Windows, developed under the codename "Sun Valley", was reportedly set to re-design the system's user interface. Microsoft has limited the number of devices that can officially run the latest version of Windows, with its restrictive hardware requirements.

Most of the latest laptops will support Windows 11, but you're probably out of luck if you built your own desktop PC or use anything more than around four years old. With that said, if your device supports Windows 11, there is no reason you should not upgrade. The Start Menu has been redesigned to list all of your apps in a more systematic and organized manner, and you can of course pin apps that you use frequently.

There's a Recommended section, wherein you can find recently accessed files and folders. The Start Menu has been designed to be consistent with the frosted glass theme that you'll see throughout Windows 11, and it looks good. These were the animated squares you could see whenever you opened the Start menu in Windows 10.

They were implemented to show you live updates for apps such as Weather, Calendar, etc, but that functionality has been moved elsewhere – more on that later. For those using touch controls, the Start menu isn't the only thing that's become more spaced out. There are some less visible updates too, with new touchscreen gestures and support for haptic feedback with stylus devices. One change you'll spot immediately is that the familiar pinned apps have moved from the left-hand side of the Taskbar to the centre. But only Windows 10 PCs that are running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware specifications will be able to upgrade. You can check to see if you have the latest updates for Windows 10 in Settings/Windows Update.

The taskbar's buttons are center-aligned by default, and it is permanently pinned to the bottom edge of the screen; it cannot be moved to the top, left, or right edges of the screen as in previous versions of Windows. The "Widgets" button on the taskbar displays a panel with Microsoft Start, a news aggregator with personalized stories and content (expanding upon the "news and interests" panel introduced in later builds of Windows 10). Microsoft Teams is similarly integrated with the taskbar, with a pop-up showing a list of recent conversations. Windows 11, the first major Windows release since 2015, builds upon its predecessor by revamping the user interface to follow Microsoft's new Fluent Design guidelines. The redesign, which focuses on ease of use and flexibility, comes alongside new productivity and social features and updates to security and accessibility, addressing some of the deficiencies of Windows 10. Apart from this, Windows 11 also offers what Microsoft calls the Desktops feature that gives the user the ability to set up and manage multiple iterations of your desktop.

It's a simple and easy feature to use, which when gotten used greatly improves ease of use. This can be accessed by going to this new icon that all Windows users of the past will instantly notice on their home screens. This Task View button sits alongside the Start button and looks like contrasting windows over one another. Hover your pointer over it, and you'll see a small preview of all the desktops you have open, as well as the option to set up a new one.

There may be a bit more variation at top-end performance tiers, where any Windows 11 efficiencies have more chance to flex their muscles. Specialist media and productivity machines like that, though, are going to boast high-end hardware, anyway, much more dependent on which particular processor and other components they're employing. However, these users may also be beholden to the specific version of Windows they're allowed to use for work by their IT departments, or because of software version compatibility. Habits are what we acquire while using anything for a long time. And in the case of Windows 10, I am sure you must have some of your favourite features that you won't like to change ever. Windows 11 will change some of your current features of Windows.

For example, right now in Windows 10, the taskbar can be docked at the top or on either side of the screen, whereas the Windows 11 version can only be docked at the bottom. The upgrade will also remove the feature to drag a file onto the taskbar and pin it as the shortcut. There are many other such features, and if you are not ready to let go of these then you can consider to postpone the upgrade. When your current version of Windows 11 reaches what Microsoft calls "end of service" — the point at which Microsoft no longer supports it — Windows 11 will install a more recent feature update automatically.

For Windows 11 Home and Pro users, that's usually 24 months after your current Windows version's release. For Windows 11 Enterprise and Education users, that's typically 36 months. If you haven't seen it through Windows Update yet, you can still get the final build through the Beta and Release Preview channels of the Windows Insider Program, as long as you have a compatible PC.

The Dev channel is already running rs_prerelease builds to test out new features, so be careful with that. If you enroll in the Dev channel, you'll have to do a clean installation of Windows 11 to roll back. And of course, you can also get it on a bunch of new laptops and desktops like the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro 8. There is a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but we wouldn't recommend it. Although Microsoft hasn't confirmed it, the company has heavily implied that unsupported users won't receive critical security updates.

Windows 11 Update Size From Windows 10 If you still want to install, you can do so using the Media Creation Tool, which bypasses hardware checks. The last of the performance improvements cover disk footprints and browser caches. In Windows 11, Microsoft expanded the use of compression technologies. In non-critical apps like Sticky Notes, the default rate of the app will be a "stub." What this means is that while the app loads up, binaries from the system get pulled on-demand without comprising the functionality of the app. This can help reduce the size of an app on the disk and push less background update activity and download traffic. As for the browser cache, Microsoft says that it now uses less disk space.