Do you plan your holidays down to the smallest detail? Who’s cooking what? When should you start shopping? What time do you need to leave the house to avoid traffic—or what time is everyone arriving if you’re hosting this year?
There’s one important thing you may not be planning – and it could end up being the most important thing of all: What to do if you or a loved one needs health care over the holidays.
These tips will help you plan so you’re prepared.
1. Keep Track of Important Holiday Hours
Over the holidays, TRS will be closed:
Day before Thanksgiving: Wednesday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 27
Day after Thanksgiving: Friday, Nov. 28
Christmas Eve: Wednesday, Dec. 24
Christmas Day: Thursday, Dec. 25
Day after Christmas: Friday, Dec. 26
New Year's Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
Day after New Year's Day: Friday, Jan. 2
BCBSTX will be closed:
Day after Christmas: Friday, Dec. 26
Day after New Year's Day: Friday, Jan. 2
Please note: Personal Health Guides will be unavailable on these days. However, the 24/7 Nurseline is open 365 days a year. Call 1-833-968-1770 day or night for help with non-urgent conditions or to find out where to go for care.
2. Check in With Your Doctors
Your providers may have different hours over the holidays. Making a couple of calls ahead of time can save you time and hassle later.
Tips: Here are a few questions to ask your regular providers:
- Do they do virtual care over the holidays? This may be a way to “see” your doctor even if you’re away from home.
- Are they referring patients to another doctor while they're out?
3. Familiarize Yourself With Your Benefits
Speaking of being away from home, not all TRS health plans include out-of-network or out-of-state care. If you’re traveling over the holidays, be sure to know what your plan covers. You don’t want to end up with a huge bill because you saw a provider who wasn’t in network.
Keep in mind:
- No matter the plan, out-of-network care will always cost more.
- Care is always covered at the in-network level in a true emergency.
Plan Highlights is a great place to review your benefits.
- Plan highlights for TRS-ActiveCare
- Plan highlights for TRS-Care Standard
4. Review Your International Care Options
TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care Standard participants can get care when traveling internationally. Visit Blue Cross Blue Shield Global® Core to find doctors and hospitals and for more information.
5. Register for TRS Virtual Care
You can see a provider from wherever you are, 24/7, for non-emergency medical health care and have prescriptions filled with Teladoc® and RediMD™. Teladoc also offers virtual mental health care, so you can see a licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist or certified drug and alcohol abuse counselor.
Virtual care is quick, easy and inexpensive. Both virtual health programs have board-certified doctors, and both offer phone or video appointments.
To get started with Teladoc, register on their site or call 1-855-Teladoc (835-2362).
Teladoc for TRS-ActiveCare
Teladoc for TRS-Care Standard
For RediMD, create an account on their site, enter the code trscarestandard or trsactivecare and click Submit. You can also call RediMD at 1-866-989-CURE (2873) and choose option 3.
- RediMD for TRS-ActiveCare
- RediMD for TRS-Care Standard
6. Download the BCBSTX App
The BCBSTX App is a huge time saver because you have instant information about your benefits and coverage at your fingertips. With the app, you can:
- get your digital ID card
- see your deductible and out-of-pocket information
- find a doctor or hospital
- track claims and spending
- access wellness tools
You can also live chat with a Personal Health Guide (PHG) 24/7 in the BCBSTX App for help with your benefits. To download the app, visit:
- BCBSTX App: Apple Store
- BCBSTX App: Google Play Store
7. Program the Personal Health Guides’ Phone Number Into Your Phone
By programming the Personal Health Guides’ phone number into your phone contacts, you can connect when you need to without searching.
If you’d rather talk to a PHG instead of texting, call 1-866-355-5999, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A PHG can help you:
- find a provider or facility
- schedule an appointment with a provider
- help you with cost estimates for procedures and services
- explain charges on your bill
- help with a referral
- and more
8. Download and Save a Copy of Your Digital ID Card
Download your digital ID card so you won’t have to search for it when you need care.
Tip: Each of your covered dependents can download a copy of their ID card for easy access.
9. Know Where to go for Mental Health Care
Depression, stress, and anxiety can all pop up during the holidays. You have great mental health coverage on every TRS health plan, including:
- medication-assisted treatment from licensed mental health providers
- specialists including addiction psychiatrists and licensed alcohol and drug counselors
- inpatient treatment
- virtual mental health care
The mental health page on the TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care Standard sites have detailed information about how to get mental health care, with links to covered programs and resources.
You can also call a PHG 24/7 and let them know you’re looking for mental health information. They’ll transfer you to a mental health specialist who can help you find care or get help in a crisis.
Resources for TRS-Care Medicare Advantage
Let’s Move
Let's Move by UnitedHealthcare is here to help keep your mind, body and social life active – at no additional cost to you. With simple resources, tools, events and personalized support, Let’s Move helps you explore ways to eat well, stay connected and be financially, physically and mentally fit — all at no additional cost to you.
To explore, visit Letsmovebyuhc.com through your member website.
You can also participate in live, virtual events to learn how to cook healthy meals, be physically active, and explore other wellness topics by visiting the events page.