Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program logo
 
 
 
2025 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan - Standard and Basic Option
Section 9. Coordinating Benefits With Medicare and Other Coverage
Physicians Who Opt-Out of Medicare
 
Physicians Who Opt-Out of Medicare

A physician may have opted-out of Medicare and may or may not ask you to sign a private contract agreeing that you can be billed directly for services ordinarily covered by Original Medicare. This is different than a Non-participating doctor, and we recommend you ask your physician if he or she has opted-out of Medicare. Should you visit an opt-out physician, the physician will not be limited to 115% of the Medicare-approved amount. You may be responsible for paying the difference between the billed amount and our regular in-network/out-of-network benefits.