Frequently Asked Questions

Online Care Anywhere is an online health care service that brings patients face-to-face with local health care professionals who can answer questions, make diagnoses and prescribe medications as appropriate. You can connect via the Internet without leaving your home or workplace. No appointment is needed. The conversations are immediate, secure, private and affordable.

Each Online Care Anywhere visit costs $45, whether or not you have medical coverage. Your employer may choose to cover a portion of the cost. Contact your employer to learn if you are eligible for a discounted rate.

Each session lasts up to 10 minutes. If you and the provider need additional time, the provider will ask if you want to extend the conversation for up to three minutes at no charge.

Before you can begin an Online Care Anywhere visit, you'll be asked to enter your credit card information. Online Care Anywhere accepts major credit cards and some debit cards. Debit cards must have a major credit card logo and must not require a PIN for use. If you do not have a credit card or acceptable debit card, you may be able to use a prepaid debit card purchased from a retail store, but it must be one that you register online or by phone and then activate.

After you have conducted a provider search and decided to connect, you will be asked to enter payment details. Under the the area labeled "Your Cost", click on the blue Enter Coupon Code link. Type in your coupon code and click Apply . If you have entered a valid coupon code, the total under Your Cost will reflect the discount. You must enter the coupon at the time of your visit.

PLEASE NOTE: If you participate in a Health Savings Plan (HSA), due to IRS guidelines you should not use coupon codes until your deductible has been met. However, you can use the service and pay the $45 cost.

Online Care Visits are not covered under any medical plan. The cost of using Online Care Anywhere is the sole responsibility of the consumer. However, if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), the receipt from your Online Care Anywhere visit may be submitted to your FSA for reimbursement.

You can use the service and pay the $45 cost. It is important to note that due to IRS guidelines, the HSA account holder should not use any free coupons until their deductible has been met. However, your eligible dependents can use the coupon code even if the account holders' deductible has not been met. Your HSA debit card may be also used with Online Care Anywhere visits, but the cost of the visit will not apply to your deductible.

Online Care Anywhere providers are available 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., seven days a week. The online health questionnaires and health reference information are available for you to use 24 hours a day.

Online Care Anywhere can be used to diagnosis and treat many health issues. The most common issues are related to sinus infections and cold / flu symptoms, but can also be used to address concerns about chronic conditions, medication or general questions about health and wellness. Below are just a few examples of why patients are using Online Care Anywhere.

• Sinus
• Pink eye
• Ear infections
• Aches & pains
• Headaches and migraines
• Depression, anxiety
• Cough & cold
• Fever
• Skin conditions
• Digestive problems
• Sleep disorders
• High blood pressure
• Flu
• Allergies
• Urinary tract infections
• Bronchitis
• Medication advice / refills (non-narcotic)
• Medical advice for self or family member

Online Care Anywhere providers can prescribe non-narcotic medications if appropriate. Any prescriptions issued will be sent directly to the preferred pharmacy you have entered in your Online Care Anywhere account. Prescriptions will process under your health plan's prescription drug benefit (all deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance and participating pharmacy requirements will apply).

You can choose to talk with a provider via secure chat, by phone or though a webcam if available. The provider will answer your questions, diagnose, suggest self-care, next steps and/or prescribe medications as appropriate. After each session, you can forward a detailed record of the conversation to your regular provider.

Online Care Anywhere is staffed with local Blue Cross Blue Shield MN credentialed providers. Unlike e-visits, where a consumer e-mails a provider or completes a lengthy assessment, an Online Care Anywhere visit is an immediate real-time interaction with a provider. There is no waiting for a response.

Due to provider licensure requirements, Online Care Anywhere is currently available only to individuals physically located in certain states. You will be asked to certify that you are physically located in a state with a doctor before you can have a visit.

Online Care Anywhere has contracted with credentialed, licensed and trusted providers.

When you register for Online Care Anywhere, you can choose to enter your health history information. You decide before each Online Care Anywhere conversation whether or not you want to share that information with the provider. You can also choose to share any prior Online Care Anywhere visits.

Having access to up-to-date health history information is important to health care providers and helps them give timely, informed care tailored to your specific needs.

You can use Online Care Anywhere from any computer in Minnesota.

Check that you have the following:

• High-speed, broadband Internet access (cable, DSL, etc.) - recommended
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or later, Firefox 2.2 or later, Safari 4 or later or Chrome 8 or later
• Adobe Flash Player 10
• Adobe Reader 7 or later

Customer Support representatives are ready to help Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact us at 1-877-515-9990 or via email onlinecare@bluecrossmn.com.

For your convenience, below are detailed instructions for how to use features of Online Care Anywhere:

• Change your credit card information (PDF)
• Change your username and password (PDF)
• Complete or update my health history (PDF
• Register my dependents in Online Care Anywhere (PDF)
• Register myself in Online Care Anywhere (PDF)
• Enter my preferred pharmacy (PDF)
• Print a receipt for an Online Care Anywhere visit (PDF)
• Start an Online Care Anywhere visit (PDF)
• Update or change my address, phone or e-mail address (PDF)
• Use the waiting room (PDF)
• Use my webcam with Online Care Anywhere (PDF)
• Share information from my Online Care Anywhere visit with my primary care physician (PDF)
• Use the phone option in Online Care Anywhere (PDF)
• Use a coupon code (PDF)