A nurse line that answers at 2 a.m. keeps a minor problem from becoming an emergency room bill.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members can call a registered nurse at any hour, day or night, at no cost. The benefit is already part of the plan, so the only job left is making sure employees know the number exists before they need it.
What the 24-Hour Nurse Line does, and what it does not.
A Registered Nurse by Phone
Blue Cross says members can talk to a registered nurse about minor symptoms by phone, day or night. The nurse can give home health advice for symptoms or help a member decide whether to treat a problem at home or see a doctor.
Quick and Free
Blue Cross lists the cost as $0 and the average wait as about one minute, and says a typical call lasts a few minutes. Cost sharing for any care that follows is a separate matter under the plan.
More Than Symptom Triage
Blue Cross says the nurses can also answer questions about upcoming surgeries and medical tests, share educational materials on rare or chronic conditions, and talk through preventive care such as immunizations and screenings.
Two networks, two phone numbers.
Blue Cross publishes a different number for each network, and an employee who cannot find the right one never gets the benefit of the service. Check these against the member ID card before they go into enrollment materials.
Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Members
Blue Care Network HMO Members
TTY Users
Call 711.
Where the nurse line sits among the ways an employee can get care.
It works best as the step between “something feels wrong” and “book a visit.” Blue Cross lays out four options, and each answers a different need.
Primary Care Doctor
Blue Cross says this should be the first call. A doctor who knows the member’s history is the right answer for ongoing and preventive care.
24-Hour Nurse Line
The answer when the doctor’s office is closed and the question is quick. Its job is to help a member decide what kind of care the problem needs, if any.
Virtual Care
A virtual visit with a board-certified doctor at any time, which Blue Cross positions for mild symptoms when the doctor’s office cannot fit the member in.
Walk-In Clinic
Urgent care centers and retail clinics for in-person care without an appointment when the problem is minor.
Blue Cross is explicit that the nurse line is not for medical emergencies. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What we would settle before leaning on it.
Does Every Employee Have the Right Number?
The PPO and Blue Care Network lines are different numbers. We would confirm which network each of your plans uses and put the matching number on enrollment materials, the benefits portal and the break-room poster.
Is It on the ID Card and in the Member Account?
A line employees cannot find does not get used. We would ask Blue Cross where the number appears on the card and in the online account, then repeat it at open enrollment and again when cold and flu season starts.
Does the Plan on the Table Include It?
Blue Cross notes that not all services are covered by all plans. For a Blue Cross plan we confirm the nurse line is part of it. For any other carrier we ask what the equivalent is, who staffs it and whether it really runs around the clock.
Common questions about the 24/7 nurse line.
Is the nurse line really available 24/7?
Blue Cross describes it as registered nurses reachable by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Confirm the details for your plan with Blue Cross.
Does it cost employees anything?
Blue Cross lists the cost as $0 for its members. Any care a member seeks after the call is billed under the plan as usual.
Can the nurses diagnose or prescribe?
Blue Cross describes the nurses as giving home health advice and helping members decide whether to self-treat or see a doctor. It does not describe diagnosis or prescriptions, so employees should treat it as guidance and follow up with their doctor.
Does it cover dependents?
Blue Cross describes the service as available to members and talks about helping families as well. Covered dependents are plan members, but confirm the details for your plan with Blue Cross.
Does it replace virtual care or urgent care?
No. It is a different step. The nurse line helps a member decide what kind of care a problem needs, while virtual care and walk-in clinics are where the care happens.
What if our carrier is not Blue Cross?
Other carriers offer their own nurse or health advice lines, but the hours, staffing and phone number differ. We list what each carrier’s plan includes when we review a renewal. You can see every carrier on our nurse lines by carrier page. We have pages on the Blue Care Network, Cigna Aetna and UnitedHealthcare, Priority Health, HAP McLaren, Anthem, Humana, Angle Health, Paramount, Total Health Care and Alliance Health and Life nurse lines.
Where this comes from.
This page summarizes information published by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Details can change, so confirm them for your plan. It is educational and is not medical advice.
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