Blue Care Network: how an HMO changes your renewal decision.
Blue Care Network is the HMO side of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employer offering. An HMO can lower cost, but it routes care through a primary care physician and changes what happens when an employee wants a specialist. This page sets out what the carrier says, then the questions we ask before recommending it.
What the carrier says about Blue Care Network
Who it is
BCN states it was founded in 1998 and describes itself as Michigan’s leading HMO, with access in all 83 counties.
Scale
BCN states it serves more than 828,000 members across Michigan.
One point of contact
BCBSM describes the BCN HMO for small groups as a streamlined plan with the primary care physician as the single point of contact.
PCP Focus network
BCBSM describes PCP Focus as a custom primary care physician HMO network offered by Blue Care Network.
Under the Blue umbrella
BCBSM and BCN market together to employers. See our Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan guide for the PPO and POS side.
Value test
An HMO still has to meet minimum value and affordability tests like any other plan. See how network type interacts with them.
Questions we ask before recommending an HMO
Will employees accept referrals?
Referral requirements save money only if employees can live with them. We map who uses specialists most before suggesting an HMO.
Does a narrower network disrupt anyone?
We run your employees’ current providers against the HMO network and show who would have to change.
Should we offer two plans?
Offering an HMO beside a PPO can lower cost for some employees without forcing everyone. We model the split.
What is the renewal built from?
We separate trend, your own claims and enrollment mix before accepting a number.
Blue Care Network questions from Michigan employers
What is the difference between a BCN HMO and a BCBSM PPO?
An HMO generally requires choosing a primary care physician and getting referrals for specialists, while a PPO allows more freedom to see providers without referrals. Exact rules depend on the plan, so confirm them in the plan documents.
Does BCN cover the whole state?
BCN states it has access in all 83 counties. That is the carrier’s claim; confirm the network near your employees before you decide.
Is an HMO cheaper for employers?
Often it can be, but the saving depends on the plan, your group and how employees use care. We compare it on your census rather than assume.
Can I offer an HMO and a PPO together?
Many employers do. Our offering-two-plans guide explains the trade-offs.
Can CFH quote Blue Care Network?
Yes. CFH can include BCN in a market test; availability depends on your size, county, funding and timing.
Where these details come from.
BCBSM: Blue Care Network fast facts: founding, access and membership statements.
BCBSM: Plans for small groups: BCN HMO and PCP Focus descriptions.
Carrier statements are the carrier’s own and can change; confirm current plans, counties and availability with your quote.
Send us your renewal.
We’ll tell you whether it looks competitive, where we see opportunity, and the five questions we’d put to your carrier. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
The renewal letter
Your current plan summary
Contribution split by tier
Enrolled counts by tier
Four documents — two more if your group is 50 or more. Nothing else; every extra one is a reason to postpone.