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Have medical coverage when you’re away from home

When it comes to good health, there are no geographic boundaries. That's why we offer out-of-area coverage through the Away from Home Care® program for Keystone HMO/POS members who will be traveling or living outside of our service area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia county).

Get urgent care while you travel1

If you are a Keystone HMO/POS member and need urgent care when traveling across the United States, you have access to care wherever you are. Call us at 1-800-ASK-BLUE (1-800-275-2583) and we’ll put you in touch with a Blue Cross® Blue Shield® provider (BlueCard® provider) in your travel area. While you are out of your home area, you’re also covered for any follow-up visits your doctor recommends with a BlueCard provider.

If you’re travelling outside of the United States, you also have access to doctors and hospitals in more than 200 countries and territories around the world through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® Core.

Apply for guest membership when you're away long-term

When you know that you or a covered member of your family will be out of the area for at least 90 days, you can apply for a guest membership with a participating HMO/POS plan in your travel area, where available. The Away from Home Care program offers a comprehensive set of HMO/POS benefits through a participating plan while away from home. Options include:

  • Long-term traveler: Six months maximum, renewable upon plan year renewal.
    Available to eligible subscribers and their covered dependents. This type of guest membership is typically used for long-term work assignments or for a retiree with a dual residence.
  • Families apart: One year maximum, renewable upon expiration of guest membership.
    Available to subscribers' spouses or dependents who do not reside with the subscriber. The subscriber is not eligible. This type of guest membership is typically used when divorced or separated families permanently reside outside of the area.
  • Students: One year maximum, renewable upon expiration of guest membership.
    Available to qualified dependents who are temporarily residing outside of the area while attending an accredited education institute. The dependent is not eligible if residing with the subscriber and is only eligible for renewal while enrolled in an accredited program until age limitation is met.

Guest membership coverage can go into effect 15 business days after the receipt and processing of a correctly completed and signed application. In addition, the subscriber must renew guest memberships for a spouse or dependent, if eligible, 30 days prior to the guest membership coverage period ending, or before the subscriber's benefits open enrollment date (whichever is sooner). If the subscriber’s HMO/POS coverage is cancelled at any time, the Guest membership coverage will be cancelled.

Get connected with Independence Blue Cross and receive application status updates and reminders to renew Guest Membership.

Refer to your member benefit booklet for additional information, limitations, and restrictions regarding the Away from Home Care program.

1 Preauthorization of care is required.