How to identify
plan enrollment
There are a few easy ways to determine if a member is enrolled in Empire
BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus or Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
The prefix on the member’s ID card identifies your patients’
health plan. The chart below explains each prefix used and
what it signifies. In addition:
£ If the prefix on the member’s ID card is JLJ,
the member is enrolled in Empire BlueCross
BlueShield HealthPlus.
£The name of the company is listed at the bottom of
the back side of the ID card.
£If the claim address indicates Virginia Beach,
Virginia, the member is enrolled in Empire BlueCross
BlueShield HealthPlus.
We encourage you to view the front and back of each
identification card to verify key information and to keep
a copy of the card on file. Our health plan name and
important phone numbers are on the back of each card for
easy reference.
It is important to use the member’s prefix when completing
normal business tasks such as filing claims, checking
contracts or submitting authorization requests; however,
claims for services before October 1, 2015, for Empire
BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus members should still be
submitted without the prefix.
Prefix
Plan name
Provider Services
JLJ
Empire BlueCross
BlueShield HealthPlus
Medicaid, Child Health Plus,
Essential Plan, HARP
1-800-450-8753
Empire BlueCross BlueShield
1-800-992-2583
Provider website
www.empireblue.com/nymedicaiddoc
Y
E
JBD, JLB, JLC,
JLD, JLE, JLF
www.empireblue.com
Reminder: If you contract only with Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus, you will not be able to see patients enrolled
in Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
Below are images of the member ID cards for the Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus and Essential Plan
programs as well as a sample of the ID card for one of the Empire BlueCross BlueShield commercial programs.
Empire BlueCross BlueShield member ID card
NYEPEC-0617-16 04.16
Group # field
Claims address
Health plan name for Empire
BlueCross BlueShield members
Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus member ID cards
Essential Plan
In addition to the JLJ prefix which denotes an Empire BlueCross
BlueShield HealthPlus member, the ID card for Essential Plan
includes the Group # field. This field contains a two-digit number
that distinguishes which Essential Plan tier the member is enrolled.
Enrollees in Plans 3 and 4 also receive a NY State Benefits Card
(CBIC) to access additional services. Consumers have the option
of using either their Essential Plan ID card or their CBIC. Use
the chart at right to reference the different Essential Plan group
numbers. Check our website frequently for additional updates
that may be important to you.
Plan
Prefix
Group number
Essential Plan 1
JLJ
54 and 55
Essential Plan 2
JLJ
52 and 53
Essential Plan 3
JLJ
51
Essential Plan 4
JLJ
50
Essential Plan member ID card with vision and dental coverage*
Group # field is two-digits in length
*If members do not have vision and dental, that information will not be included on the card.
Medicaid
Member ID with prefix. There is no Group # field for Medicaid members.
Health plan name
Claims address
empireblue.com/nymedicaiddoc
Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus is the trade name of HealthPlus HP, LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Association.