HealthSelectShoppERS^SM is launching soon. Beginning September 1, eligible HealthSelect participants may save money and earn rewards when shopping for certain medical services and procedures before having the services performed. 

What is HealthSelectShoppERS?

HealthSelectShoppERS is a health care shopping and savings program that can help participants:

• compare costs for many health care procedures,
• estimate their out-of-pocket costs and
• earn incentives by shopping for certain medical services and procedures 

When HealthSelect participants and their eligible dependents choose lower-cost options for certain medical services, they can earn up to $500 in rewards each plan year.

Who will be able to participate?

In general, HealthSelectShoppERS is available to all benefits-eligible active employees enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas®, HealthSelect^SM Out-of-State or Consumer Directed HealthSelect^SM and their dependents covered in the same health plan. Retirees, Medicare-primary participants, COBRA participants and HealthSelect^SM Secondary participants are not eligible for the HealthSelectShoppERS program.

To be eligible to earn an incentive, the participant has to be actively employed (not retired) at a state agency or higher education institution, or the enrolled dependent of an active employee when:

• they shop for the service or procedure,
• they get the service or procedure and
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) processes the claim.

If the participant isn’t eligible at any point in the process, they will not earn an incentive. Depending on the time between shopping and getting care, the entire process could take months.

How it will work

Step 1 – Starting September 1, after the participant’s primary care provider (PCP) or specialist recommends a HealthSelectShoppERS-eligible medical procedure or service, the participant can:

• Log in to Blue Access for Members at www.healthselectoftexas.com, and click on the “Doctors and Hospitals” tab and then the “Find a Doctor or Hospital” link; 
• In Provider Finder, type in the name of the procedure to search; or select “Cost Estimates” and then “All Rewarded Procedures;” and  
• Compare the health care providers (facilities) that perform the procedure and select a lower-cost, quality provider that qualifies for a HealthSelectShoppERS reward.

Step 2 – The participant has the procedure at the HealthSelectShoppERS-eligible facility. Note: The procedure may require a referral or prior authorization.

Step 3 – When the medical service or procedure is complete, the provider will submit the claim to BCBSTX. Once BCBSTX processes the claim (usually within 30-45 days), and as long as the participant is still eligible, ERS will deposit the reward into their TexFlex health care flexible spending account (FSA) or, if the participant is enrolled in Consumer Directed HealthSelect, their limited purpose FSA. If the member does not have a TexFlex health care FSA or limited-purpose FSA, ERS will open one for them.

Stay tuned

You can share the HealthSelect ShoppERS flier and FAQs about the program  with your employees. These are  now available on the  HealthSelect website. The HealthSelectShoppERS landing page for participants will go live on September 1. If you have additional questions about HealthSelectShoppERS, contact your BCBSTX Agency Relations Representative.