When you come to your local Highmark Direct health insurance store, you will sit down one-on-one with an expert who can help with your health insurance needs. Learn more about what you can expect during your visit.
What can I do at a Highmark Direct health insurance store?
Do I need to make an appointment?
How do I make an appointment?
What should I bring to my appointment?
How do I find a Highmark Direct health insurance store in my area?
Do you accept payments at your stores?
What insurance plans does Highmark offer?
How much time should I expect to spend at my appointment?
Current and potential Highmark plan members meet one-on-one with a store associate to:
You also can attend free programs and seminars on healthy living and Medicare.
No, an appointment is not necessary. You can drop in anytime during store hours. However, when you make an appointment it ensures that the appropriate Highmark representative will be available at a time that is most convenient for you.
For a personalized meeting with a Highmark Direct health insurance store associate, make an appointment at one of our convenient store locations.
To ensure you get the most from your appointment, please bring certain items with you:
If you are eligible for Medicare, please bring:
If you are seeking individual or family health insurance, please bring:
We have 11 Highmark Direct health insurance stores conveniently located throughout Pennsylvania. Our store associates provide services to residents who live within a particular store’s service area. Check our store locations to find a Highmark Direct health insurance store near you.
Yes, you can visit your local Highmark Direct health insurance store anytime to pay your monthly insurance premium. Our store associates cannot take payments over the phone.
All of our stores accept checks and money orders. Depending on your plan, you also may be able to pay with a credit card. Contact your local store for payment information. See store locations.
We offer a range of health insurance plans to fit your needs and budget. Our store’s sales associates can help you shop for and compare plans, as well as assist with enrollment.
Our plan options include:
Most appointments take 1 hour. However, you may need more or less time depending on your specific needs.
In our stores, licensed associates offer personalized assistance to people searching for the right health insurance policy — for themselves or for their families. Since the first Highmark Direct health insurance store location opened in 2009, more than 330,000 people have visited our stores. We offer a personalized way to shop for health insurance; Here are some of the services that our Highmark Direct health insurance stores offer:
Yes. For information regarding health insurance plans offered by Highmark, prior to visiting your local Highmark Direct health insurance store, please visit Discover Highmark. At DiscoverHighmark.com, you will find tools and resources that will help you understand your options.
Yes. We offer many convenient options in-store to help answer your customer service questions:
Other convenient ways to access customer service include:
All of the details of what you need to bring to a consultation are included on our "What to Bring" page.
We accept check, money order*, Visa, MasterCard, Discover,* and American Express* for in-store payments. We are unable to accept payments over the phone or cash.
*not accepted at our Williamsport, Bartonsville, or Dickson City locations
We have 13 Highmark Direct health insurance stores located throughout Pennsylvania. At all locations, excluding Williamsport, Dickson City and Bartonsville locations, our stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm. Our Williamsport, Dickson City and Bartonsville stores are open Monday though Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Visit our store locator for addresses, phone numbers, and directions.
30 to 60 minutes.
PPO plans do not require members to receive initial care through a primary care physician. You can decide for yourself where to obtain care. You can use network providers, including specialists, and receive a higher level of coverage, or go to out-of-network providers and receive a lower level of coverage – and pay more -- for covered services. The choice is yours.
Once you enroll, you can review your benefit booklet online at the My Benefits page on the website.
You will receive your insurance ID card(s) after you make your first month’s premium payment.
With the laws established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it’s more important than ever to find a health plan that is right for you. If you or your dependents don’t have insurance that qualifies as minimum essential coverage, you may have to pay a penalty. You will also have to pay for all of your medical expenses. For more information regarding penalties, please visit Healthcare.gov's "What if I dont have Health Coverage?"
In addition to avoiding penalties and paying for all of your health care expenses, one of the smartest things you can do is to protect yourself and your family with the right health insurance coverage, even if you are healthy. The cost of medical care is increasing every day -- and getting treatment for an illness or injury could mean thousands of dollars of debt – even bankruptcy – if you don’t have health insurance coverage.
And what about staying healthy? Regular check-ups, vision care, maternity care and well-child care visits are important ways to take care of yourself and your family. With health insurance coverage that includes preventive care, you don’t have to think twice about scheduling regular check-ups.
Some individuals get health insurance coverage for themselves and their families through their employer as part of their benefits package. Other individuals and families purchase coverage directly from a health insurance company.
When you go to a health care provider, your health insurance identification (ID) card shows the provider which plan you have and the payment you are expected to make for the service. The provider then sends a claim (a bill for the services provided) to your insurance company, and, if the service is covered, the insurance company pays the provider for the service. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement from the insurance company that tells you the amount the insurance company paid for the service and any remaining amount that you owe the provider. If you did not pay at the time you received care, you will receive a bill from the provider for the amount you owe.
In addition to your premium, the amount you pay each month for your health insurance, you may have to share the costs of the services you receive.
· A deductible is the specified dollar amount you must pay each benefit period (usually a year) for your health care expenses before your plan begins to pay.
· Coinsurance is the specified percentage amount of the provider’s reasonable charge for covered services that you are required to pay for care after you have met your deductible. For example, if the health insurance company pays 80 percent of the cost for a service, you would pay 20 percent coinsurance.
· Copayment (Copay) is a fixed, upfront dollar amount that you pay every time you receive certain services or care, such as $20 for every doctor’s visit. The health insurance company pays the remaining cost. Can be before or after deductible.
A Preferred-Provider Organization (PPO) gives you access to a network of participating doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. If you receive care from a network provider, you pay a lower share of the cost. You can also choose to go to a doctor or hospital out of the network and pay a higher share of the cost for your care. You do not need to have a primary care physician to coordinate your care.
Some “qualified” PPOs are offered in conjunction with a Health Savings Account (HSA) as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Your HSA can be used to fund your out-of-pocket medical expenses using tax-free dollars.
A provider is any doctor, specialist, hospital or rehabilitation facility, for example, where you get health care.
Network providers are doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals and suppliers that have signed an agreement with a health plan to accept the amount that the company will pay for covered services as payment in full less any cost-sharing you’re responsible for. They also file claims for you.
Out-of-network providers do not have an agreement with a health plan. If you are treated by an out-of-network provider or facility, you’ll have to pay a greater share of the costs for your care. You may also be responsible for paying any difference between the amount your plan pays and the provider’s charge for the service, and you may have to file your own claims.
When selecting a health care coverage plan, you will want to research specific details about the plans you are considering, including:
Covered services – Most plans cover doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery and emergency care. But if you want coverage for prescription drugs, vision or behavioral health, make sure the plan offers it.
Deductible – How much of your health care expenses are you responsible for paying before the plan begins to cover your care? If you are covering family members too, do you need to meet more than one deductible? Or do expenses for all covered family members count toward a single deductible?
Cost-sharing – What portion of the cost for services is paid by the plan and how much will you be responsible for? Are those costs within your budget?
Network – Does the plan’s provider network include the doctors and hospitals you want? If you use providers outside of the network, how much more will you pay for care?
Preventive care – This usually includes yearly check-ups, mammograms, Pap tests, prostate exams, immunizations and well-child visits. What kind of preventive care is covered? Are there limitations on that care, such as the number of visits per year?
Maximums – Are there limits on how much the plan will pay for your care?
Health Savings Account – To enjoy the tax advantages of a Health Savings Account, should you consider enrolling in a qualified high-deductible health plan?
There are lots of things you can do to improve your health, become an educated health care consumer and help control health care costs.
With more providers than competitive plans, chances are good that your current physician and hospital are part of our extensive provider network. Find a Doctor, Hospital or Medical Provider to see if your provider is in our network.
In case of emergency, you’re covered at the higher level of benefits for emergency care received in or outside the PPO provider network.
Your PPO Plan has you covered no matter where you are. You can locate thousands of participating Blue Plan providers by calling BlueCard Access at 1-800-810-BLUE.
As a Highmark member, you enjoy all the services of BlueCard Worldwide. Your coverage travels with you through a worldwide network of care providers. For more details, please ask your local Highmark Direct health insurance store associate.
To help make health insurance more affordable, the government offers two types of financial help to eligible households - depending on your household income and other factors.
Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC). If you qualify, a Premium Tax Credit may be applied (in advance) to lower what you pay in monthly premiums on any Health Insurance Marketplace plan. The amount of a Premium Tax Credit is based mostly on family size and income.*
Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR) will lower your out-of-pocket costs that you may pay at the time of service for doctor's visits, lab tests, drugs and other covered services. You can only get these savings if you enroll in a Marketplace Silver Metal Level plan.**
Visit your local Highmark Direct store or Healthcare.gov for additional information.
* Eligibility for financial help can only be determined by requesting an eligibility verification through the Health Insurance Marketplace at Healthcare.gov.
** American Indian and Alaska Native Cost-Sharing Reductions apply to individual plans at any Metal Level through the Marketplace.
If your plan does not have set copays, services will be subject to your in-network deductible. Once the deductible has been met, services will then be considered at a set percentage of the allowance (80% for example). You will be responsible for the remaining 20% until you have reached your out-of-pocket maximum for the calendar year. Once the out-of-pocket maximum has been met, services will then be considered at 100% of the allowed amount for the rest of the calendar year. This does not include any services not covered by your plan.
Your premium depends on the plan you select. Your premium is the amount you pay each month for your health insurance. A Highmark Direct health insurance store licensed associate will be able to walk you through plan options to help you understand your benefits and find a plan that fits your needs.
Your deductible or coinsurance depends on the plan you select. A Highmark Direct health insurance store licensed associate will be able to walk you through plan options to help you understand your benefits and find a plan that fits your needs.
Your copay, if any, depends on the plan you select and if you are seeing your primary care physician or a specialist. A Highmark Direct health insurance store licensed associate will be able to walk you through plan options to help you understand your benefits and find a plan that fits your needs.
Prescription drug coverage varies based upon your health insurance plan. If you are current Highmark member and have questions regarding your medication costs, please contact customer service (reference the back of your ID card for contact details) or if you are shopping for insurance, speak to an associate at your local Highmark Direct health insurance store for more information.
In order to obtain this information, we will need the following information: the procedure code, the in-network provider’s tax ID and provider’s charge. Once you have this information, you can contact member service for the medical procedure cost.
We offer a standalone dental policy through United Concordia. Our Dental plans take effect the first of the following month after the application is completed and first month’s premium is received. At this time, we do not offer a standalone vision plan, however vision is included in most of our policies.
If you have specific questions, please contact your local Highmark Direct health insurance store.
Yes. Due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all pre-existing conditions are covered under a qualified ACA health insurance plan. Please note: Short Term coverage does not cover pre-existing conditions.
There are many services that are eligible as part of your preventive benefits package. Eligibility of services will be based on age, gender, and when the last service date was. It is best to contact member service at the time of your visit with a list of services that your health care provider will be performing or check the Preventive Schedule on our website.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance plans must provide coverage for adult dependents under age 26 on their parents' policies.
Your number of visits depends on your selected plan. A Highmark Direct health insurance store licensed associate will be able to walk you through plan options to help you understand your benefits and find a plan that fits your needs.
Gym memberships are not a covered benefit under the terms of your health insurance policy. However, you may be entitled to receive a discount through our member wellness discount program.
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Y0037_19_1662_M Accepted
Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Highmark Blue Shield serves the 21 counties of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves the 29 counties of western Pennsylvania and the 13 counties of Northeastern PA.
Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, and Highmark Senior Solutions Company are Medicare Advantage plans with a Medicare contract. HM Health Insurance Company is a PDP plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, Highmark Senior Solutions Company, and HM Health Insurance Company depends on contract renewal.
For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 1-800-350-4135 and TTY may call 711. There is no obligation to enroll.
Y0037_19_1662_M Accepted
Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Highmark Blue Shield serves the 21 counties of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves the 29 counties of western Pennsylvania and the 13 counties of Northeastern PA.
Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, and Highmark Senior Solutions Company are Medicare Advantage plans with a Medicare contract. HM Health Insurance Company is a PDP plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Senior Health Company, Highmark Senior Solutions Company, and HM Health Insurance Company depends on contract renewal.
For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 1-800-350-4135 and TTY may call 711. There is no obligation to enroll.