Connect Blue Plans

Connect Blue: A Community Blue Plan

High-Quality care and cost savings, close to home

Connect Blue gives our members patient-centered care at a significant cost savings — with doctors and hospitals that are close to where they live and work.

Connect Blue uses the Community Blue network of community-based health care providers.

  • Includes Allegheny Health Network doctors and hospitals
  • Medical professionals that western Pennsylvanians have relied on for generations

Connect Blue is an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) health plan with three in-network levels of benefits. Except for emergencies and a few other situations, there is no out-of-network coverage.

This structure:

  • Helps companies control their health care costs and continue to offer high-quality care
  • Helps members save the most when they choose hospitals and doctors participating at the Preferred Value level of benefits

Now Available for Employers

Connect Blue is now available to companies of all sizes headquartered in Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Erie, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Also offered in Mercer County to large group companies (51 or more employees).

Three Benefit Levels

Standard Value level of benefits 

Members will have the highest out-of-pocket costs when they receive covered services from network providers who participate at the Standard Value level of benefits. Before making appointments, members should confirm that the provider is in network, and find out which benefits level they participate in.

Enhanced Value level of benefits

Members will have more provider options and still save money when they receive covered services from those additional Community Blue network providers who participate at the Enhanced Value level of benefits. This includes Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core® providers (outside of the service area).

Preferred Value level of benefits

Members will have the lowest out-of-pocket costs at this level when they receive covered services from Community Blue network providers participating at the Preferred Value Level of benefits. These include the nationally acclaimed doctors and hospitals from the Allegheny Health Network and certain other independent and community hospitals.

Additional Member Savings Benefits

With Connect Blue, members have additional health benefits that can also help them save money on their copays, deductibles and cost-sharing.

Additional members savings benefits

Cancer Diagnosis Second Opinion

Members with complex and/or rare cancers can get a second opinion from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center specialists; it will be fully-covered in accordance with this coverage.

Outpatient Surgical Benefit

Many outpatient surgeries may be done in a non-hospital setting, such as a doctor’s office or ambulatory care surgical center. This can be more convenient and less expensive than going to a hospital. With Connect Blue,when members select a non-hospital outpatient center that participates in the Preferred Value level of benefits for outpatient surgery, the outpatient surgical copayment is waived.

Additional Features

Behavioral Health

Mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse outpatient treatment are covered at the Preferred Value level of benefits.

National Coverage

Treatment received outside of the western Pennsylvania service area is covered atthe Enhanced Value level of benefits for all providers participating in that local Blue plan’s EPO.

Emergency Care

For additional peace of mind, emergency services are covered at the Preferred Value level of benefits for both in-network and out-of-network providers.

Engagement Resources

Members have access to all Highmark wellness programs, health coaches and state-of-the-art online health tools.

Learn More

Connect Blue is now available to companies of all sizes headquartered in Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Erie, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Also offered in Mercer County to large group companies (51 or more employees).