81 Member’s Cooperation You will be expected to complete and submit to us all such authorizations, consents, releases, assignments and other documents that may be needed in order to obtain or assure reimbursement under Medicare, Workers’ Compensation or any other governmental program. If you fail to cooperate , you will be responsible for any charge for services. Payment of Benefits You authorize the Claims Administrator, in its own discretion and on behalf of the Employer, to make payments directly to Providers for Covered Services. In no event, however, shall the Plan’s right to make payments directly to a Provider be deemed to suggest that any Provider is a beneficiary with independent claims and appeal rights under the Plan. The Claims Administrator also reserves the right, in its own discretion, to make payments directly to you as opposed to any Provider for Covered Service, at our discretion. In the event that payment is made directly to you, you have the responsibility to apply this payment to the claim from the Out-of-Network Provider. Payments and notice regarding the receipt and/or adjudication of claims may also be sent to an Alternate Recipient (which is defined herein as any child of a Subscriber who is recognized under a “Qualified Medical Child Support Order” as having a right to enrollment under the Employer’s Plan), or that person’s custodial parent or designated representative. Any payments made by the Claims Administrator (whether to any Provider for Covered Service or You) will discharge the Plan’s obligation to pay for Covered Services. You cannot assign your right to receive payment to anyone, except as required by a “Qualified Medical Child Support Order” as defined by, and if subject to, ERISA or any applicable Federal law. Once a Provider performs a Covered Service, the Claims Administrator will not honor a request to withhold payment of the claims submitted. The coverage, rights, and benefits under the Plan are not assignable by any Member without the written consent of the Plan, except as provided above. This prohibition against assignment includes rights to receive payment, claim benefits under the Plan and/or law, sue or otherwise begin legal action, or request Plan documents or any other information that a Participant or beneficiary may request under ERISA. Any assignment made without written consent from the Plan will be void and unenforceable. Inter-Plan Arrangements Out-of-Area Services Overview We have a variety of relationships with other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Licensees. Generally, these relationships are called “Inter-Plan Arrangements.” These Inter-Plan Arrangements work based on rules and procedures issued by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (“Association”). Whenever you access healthcare services outside the geographic area we serve (the “Anthem Service Area”), the claim for those services may be processed through one of these Inter-Plan Arrangements. The Inter-Plan Arrangements are described below. When you receive care outside of the Anthem Service Area, you will receive it from one of two kinds of Providers. Most Providers (“participating providers”) contract with the local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan in that geographic area (“Host Blue”). Some Providers (“nonparticipating providers”) don’t contract with the Host Blue. We explain below how we pay both kinds of Providers.
Benefit Booklet: Plan 2 Page 81 Page 83