Special Programs
Blue Cross Complete of Michigan offers special programs that foster improved health and well-being. These programs benefit our members and their families. You can learn more about them below.
Blue Cross Complete of Michigan offers special programs that foster improved health and well-being. These programs benefit our members and their families. You can learn more about them below.
If you have a chronic condition, our special health programs can help. You don’t need a referral to participate. If you have one of the conditions listed below, you can join one of our special programs.
Blue Cross Complete also doesn’t require medical service referrals, but we recommend you talk with your primary care provider to coordinate care. We can help you find a doctor.
As a member of our plan, you may enroll in a special health program if you have:
These programs can help you learn more about your condition so you can manage it. They may also help improve your quality of life. As part of the program, you’ll receive information in the mail. You can request a case manager to assist you with your health care needs.
A case manager is a nurse or social worker who will help you manage your care. A case manager will call you to find out how you're doing. They’ll send you information about your condition, coordinate care with your medical providers and help you with resources you may need to improve your health.
If you have a serious health condition or multiple medical issues, you may enroll in our Complex Care Management program. It provides you with more care to better manage your needs.
The Complex Care Management program can help you:
How can I join a program?
You can join a special program or Complex Care Management by:
Your primary care provider, specialist or other health care provider may also talk to you about becoming part of a program. They can call us to have you join.
We may see from your health history that you might benefit from a program. We’ll send you information in the mail about how to enroll in the program.
How can I leave a program?
To opt out of a special program or Complex Care Management, call 1-888-228-8554, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users call 1-888-987-5832. It won’t change your benefits. It won't change the way we or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services treats you.
What is asthma?
Asthma1 is a long-term illness that makes the airways to your lungs narrow, swollen or blocked. It’s important to do everything you can to keep your asthma under control.
Uncontrolled asthma:
You can control asthma if you:
1. “Asthma,” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, September 18, 2014, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/asthma.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease1, or CKD, is permanent kidney damage or a decreased level of kidney function. If left untreated, CKD can lead to complete kidney failure. In most cases, CKD is caused by diabetes and high blood pressure. 33% of American adults are at risk for kidney disease2. Take this quiz from the National Kidney Foundation to find out if you’re part of the 33%.
There are often no symptoms in the first phases of CKD. A urine test can detect early stage kidney disease. As the disease gets worse you may notice:
You’re at higher risk for CKD if you:
Testing for CKD includes testing your:
Learn more about CKD, including symptoms, why it’s important to get tested and what you can do to keep your kidneys healthy:
1. “Kidney Disease,” nkfm.org, December 13, 2023, https://nkfm.org/conditions/kidney-disease/#ckd
2. “Kidney Quiz,” kidney.org, December 13, 2023, https://www.kidney.org/kidney-quiz/?utm_source=organic&utm_medium=feild&utm_campaign=kidney-quiz_michigan_conversion
What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease1, or COPD, is a lung disease that damages one or both of your lungs. When you have COPD, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs are partly closed. This makes it hard to breathe.
COPD develops slowly, so it may take years before you see any of these symptoms:
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. If you would like to quit smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669). Talk to your doctor about medicines that can help you quit.
1. “COPD,” National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copd.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes1 is a disease that affects how your body breaks down sugar. It causes your body to have too much sugar in the blood. It could also be that you do not have enough insulin. Insulin helps your body break down the sugar in the food you eat to give you energy.
If you don’t have control of your diabetes, it can:
1. “Diabetes,” familydoctor.org, September 20, 2020, https://familydoctor.org/condition/diabetes/.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure1 happens because your heart muscle is weak and there’s too much fluid inside of it. Without proper treatment, heart failure can:
1. “Warning Signs of Heart Failure,” American Heart Association, May 31, 2017, https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/warning-signs-of-heart-failure.
What is hemophilia?
Hemophilia1 is an uncommon disease. It’s genetic. That means people with hemophilia are born with it. When you have hemophilia, your body can’t clot your blood. This can make it hard for you to stop bleeding.
1. “About Hemophilia,” Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, June 4, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/hemophilia/about/index.html.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C1 is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. It’s spread through contact with blood from an infected person. People with hepatitis C often don’t feel sick and many don’t know how they were exposed. When symptoms do appear, they’re often a sign of advanced liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C can result in serious, even life-threatening, health problems such as cirrhosis and liver cancer
Learn more about hepatitis C, including how it’s spread, symptoms and why it’s important to get tested on this Hepatitis C Fact Sheet (PDF).
1. “Viral Hepatitis,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure1, or hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on what you’re doing. High blood pressure means your blood pressure consistently measures above normal.
There are often no symptoms of high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause heart attack, heart disease, stroke and brain problems and kidney disease.
You can prevent or manage high blood pressure by:
1. “About High Blood Pressure,” cdc.gov, June 4, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/high-blood-pressure/about/.
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus1, or HIV, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS. There currently is no cure for HIV. Once someone gets HIV, they have it for life. Proper medical care can help control the virus.
HIV is most commonly spread through sex or sharing needles with someone who has HIV. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested.
You can prevent HIV by:
If you’re living with HIV, resources and support are available. For more information, view our HIV Resources and Support PDF.
1. “About HIV,” cdc.gov, June 3, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/about/index.html
What is sickle cell anemia?
Sickle cell anemia1 is a genetic disease. This means people with sickle cell anemia are born with it. When you have sickle cell anemia, some of the blood cells in your body are not a normal shape. Because of the shape, these cells can block blood flow. This can cause pain. It may also cause infections and other complications.
1. “Sickle Cell Disease,” MedlinePlus, https://medlineplus.gov/sicklecelldisease.html.
Blue Cross Complete offers transportation at no cost to medical appointments, pharmacies, durable medical equipment suppliers and more. Our transportation provider, ModivCare (previously called LogisitiCare), can help you get there. Visit our Transportation page to learn more about your transportation benefit and schedule a ride online. To schedule by phone, call 1-800-803-4947 (TTY: 711). You can also get reimbursement for gas mileage if you drive yourself or are driven by a friend or family member.
If you have questions about the programs shown here, talk to your doctor or specialist, or:
Call Customer Service
1-800-228-8554
TTY: 1-888-987-5832
24 hours a day, seven days a week
Write to
Member Services
4000 Town Center, Suite 1300
Southfield, MI 48075
The state of Michigan's Children's Special Health Care Services provides extra support for children and some adults who have special health care needs. This program is in addition to the medical care your child gets from us.
CSHCS is part of Title V of the Federal Social Security Act. CSHCS helps those with chronic health problems by offering:
Several factors decide whether a person is eligible for CSHCS.
Am I eligible for CSHCS?
If your child is enrolled in CSHCS, you may want to find a doctor who treats kids in this program. Here's how to search online:
Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs – They provide a parent support network and training programs. It also offers financial help for programs about special needs. For more information, visit michigan.gov.
County health departments – They can also direct you to local resources. This includes parent support groups, adult transition help, child care, vaccines and more.
Children's Special Needs Fund – The fund helps families get items not covered by Medicaid or CSHCS. These items promote the health, mobility and development of your child. They include wheelchair ramps, van lifts and mobility equipment. For information, visit michigan.gov/csnfund.
If you have questions about CSHCS, need help finding a doctor, or need help from a specially trained nurse, call:
1-800-228-8554
TTY: 1-888-987-5832
24 hours a day, seven days a week
MIChild is a health care program from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. It's for uninsured and underinsured kids under the age of 19. These kids are in need of medical, dental, vision, hearing and prescription coverage. There are no copays, coinsurance or deductibles. You pay $10 a month for all of your children who qualify. This applies even if you have more than one child. You can also choose to receive your care from us.
The MIChild program covers the following for kids under 19 years old:
If you have questions about MIChild, call:
Customer Service
1-800-228-8554
TTY: 1-888-987-5832
24 hours a day, seven days a week
Michigan’s Freedom to Work program expands Medicaid eligibility to disabled adults with earned income. You may have to pay a monthly premium. Eligibility is determined by MDHHS.
Am I eligible for the Freedom to Work program?
To be eligible for the Freedom to Work program, you must:
To learn more, contact your local MDHHS office.
Override Health is a chronic pain management program available to members at no cost. This virtual program helps you build a toolbox of mental and physical exercises to help manage your pain. When you enroll, you’re given a specialty care team that may include a pain medicine physician, pain-trained physical therapist, psychologist and certified pain coach.
To learn more or sign up, call the Override Support Line at 1-646-598-8338.
Override Health, a separate company, has a contract with Blue Cross Complete to provide pain management services to certain Blue Cross Complete members.