Introducing New Member ID Cards with Bar Code Technology
In the June Blue Review, we informed you of the launch of our Blue Access MobileSM website where members can log in to their secure Blue Access for MembersSM site using their smart phone or device to view their member ID card details and coverage information, check claim status, and more.
As we continue to seek ways to expand and upgrade the mobile options we offer our customers, we are pleased to announce that we are beginning the transition to bar code technology. A bar code will soon replace the magnetic stripe on the back of our member ID cards. This enhancement will allow members to "check in" for an office visit in person, or by using our new mobile options to display the bar code on their smart phone.
Members who enroll on or after August 1, 2011, will receive ID cards with the bar code. The cards will also be issued to new members requesting or needing new cards and to existing members whose benefits are changing. Members who currently have the magnetic stripes on their card will receive the bar-coded cards upon their group’s annual renewal.
Advantages of Bar Code Technology
The bar code will carry the same information as the magnetic stripe, including the subscriber’s name and ID number, benefit plan and date of birth. Unlike the magnetic stripe, which requires the member to have the card in hand, the bar code technology allows the member the option of presenting an image of the bar code (e.g., as an image on a smart phone or as a photocopy) to your office. With the proper optical scanning technology, your office will be able to transmit the member’s data to BCBSNM via your preferred vendor portal.
In addition to providing an additional convenience to members, bar code technology, which is becoming the new industry standard, will make the ID cards more eco-friendly. The card will be thinner yet durable, and by removing the petroleum-based magnetic stripe, it will be easier on the environment.
