The bell hasn't even rung yet, and your to-do list is already a mile long — classroom setup, lesson plans, schedules, maybe a first-day-of-school photo prop or two. It's easy for "health benefits" to fall to the bottom of that list. But a few minutes now can save you real time, money and stress the moment you actually need care.
Here are four simple steps to take today, before the first sniffle, sprained ankle or sick day of the school year.
Make sure you can get to your health plan information the second you need it — not after 10 minutes of digging for a login.
- Download the BCBSTX App Blue Access for Members (BAM) (free on the Apple App Store and Google Play) to check benefits, find a doctor and chat with a Personal Health Guide right from your phone.
- Save the number for Personal Health Guides: 1-866-355-5999. This team of insurance specialists is available to help you sort out your options.
- Log in to your account at Blue Access for Members or MyTRS to confirm your personal and dependent information is current — especially if you got married, had a baby or moved during the summer.
When you're not feeling well, knowing where to start can get you seen faster and keep an unexpected bill from landing in your mailbox. Your primary care provider (PCP) — your first call for most non-urgent needs.
- Virtual care options, like Teladoc, for quick, $0 or low-cost visits with a doctor from your couch.
- Nearby urgent care centers for things that need attention today but aren't life-threatening.
- When emergency room care is appropriate — for chest pain, severe injuries or anything that truly can't wait.
Not sure which one fits your situation? Use Provider Finder® to search for in-network doctors, hospitals and urgent care centers by location and specialty, or call the 24/7 Nurseline at 1-833-968-1770 — a registered nurse can help you decide whether you need the ER, urgent care or your regular doctor.
A quick call can save you a lot of frustration later. Add these to your phone now, while you're thinking about it:
- Personal Health Guides for Medical Benefits: 1-866-355-5999 (also reachable through the BCBSTX App)
- 24/7 Nurseline: 1-833-968-1770
- Express Scripts for Pharmacy Benefits: 1-844-367-6108
You can also find the full, up-to-date list any time on TRS' Health Benefits Contacts page.
Many participants don't discover some of their best benefits until they need them. Get ahead of that by exploring:
- Mental health support, including $0 Teladoc virtual visits for TRS-ActiveCare Primary and Primary+ participants and access to in-network providers through Headway. You can also ask for mental health help any time you call a Personal Health Guide at 1-866-355-5999.
- Airrosti for fast, hands-on or virtual care through Airrosti Remote Recovery to help relieve muscle, joint and back pain — often without a referral or X-ray.
- Member Rewards, a program that pays you back — up to $599 a year — for services such as a mammogram, colonoscopy, well-woman exam or visit to your PCP. Look for the Member Rewards tab through Provider Finder® or the BCBSTX App.
Want a guided walkthrough instead of reading through it all yourself? Put this 30-minute recorded webinar — From A to Z: Your TRS-ActiveCare Plan — on in the background and hear about your plan from the experts.
Be Ready for Whatever the School Year Brings
As a teacher, you spend hours planning for the year ahead — but health needs don't send a lesson plan in advance. Taking a few simple steps today means you'll find care faster, avoid unnecessary stress and get the most out of your TRS-ActiveCare benefits exactly when you need them most.
A little preparation now goes a long way — for the whole school year ahead.
Questions?
Have questions about your specific plan? Call a Personal Health Guide at 1-866-355-5999.
Resources
Provider Finder®
Use Provider Finder® to find a doctor to help you stay up to date on vaccines and preventive care. You can search by location, gender or specialty.
You can also connect with a plan specialist about coverage and benefits or to get help finding a provider. They can even make an appointment for you! Call 1-866-355-5999 or chat in the BCBSTX app.
Teladoc™
Make a virtual mental health appointment for nonemergency mental health conditions with a licensed therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Headway
Connect with an in-network mental health provider quickly and easily. You can even get same day matching with providers who have openings within 48 hours.
Mental Health Personal Health Guide
Get real-time help from specially trained PHGs who can help you find a provider or get help in a crisis. Be sure to ask for mental health help when you call 1-866-355-5999, available 24/7.
- Personal Health Guides for TRS-ActiveCare
- Personal Health Guides for TRS-Care Standard
Well onTarget®
Take self-guided courses or get one-on-one support from a credentialed health expert. These wellness coaches can help you with stress management, postpartum care, fitness, and dietary habits that could affect your mental health.
Learn to Live
Get matched with the right digital mental health program for the support you need for issues like stress, anxiety, worry, depression, insomnia and sleep problems, social anxiety, and substance misuse.
Know Where to Get Care
If you do get sick or have an accident over the holidays, know where to go for care.
Fitness Program
Join The Fitness Program to get affordable, no-contract memberships at gyms nationwide. Choose what works best for you based on location, budget or personal preference. There's even a virtual-only option!
100% Covered Vaccines
Your TRS health plan covers immunizations at no cost to you.
Member Rewards
Get rewarded for getting cancer screenings like a mammogram or visit with your PCP, OBGYN or specialist with Member Rewards. You can earn up to $599 per year.