Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions ("terms and conditions") govern your use of the fepblue.org Site (the "Web site"). By clicking to access, view, or use the material on the Web site, you indicate that you understand and intend these terms and conditions to be the legal equivalent of a signed, binding written contract, and that you accept such terms and conditions and agree to be legally bound by them. If you "opt-in," you authorize use of your information as outlined in this section and the privacy policy for this Web site.

If you do not agree with the terms and conditions, you are not granted permission to use the Web site and should exit immediately. This opt-out option is not stated prior to each feature of this Web site. If you decide to opt-out or not accept our terms and conditions and the terms of our Privacy Policy, you will not be able to use our interactive features such as Pharmacy Programs and the Provider Directory.

Please Note: This Web site offers a summary of some of the features of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. Before making a final decision, please read the plan's 2007 or 2008 Service Benefit Plan Brochure. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions included in the brochure. Benefits under the non-FEHBP programs are neither offered as part of nor guaranteed under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield contract with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide healthcare to Federal employees and annuitants. These benefits are only available to contract holders and covered family members enrolled in the Service Benefit Plan. The cost of these benefits is not included in your premium.

General information:

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. There are local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in the United States that provide customer service and claims processing functions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members worldwide.

Questions and comments, including the reporting of any non-functioning links in the Web site, should be submitted to the local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan. You may call the Plan at the customer service number located on the back of your Service Benefit Plan ID card or you can submit an electronic inquiry using the Customer eService link provided on our homepage. If you are not a Service Benefit Plan member, the number for the local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan can be found in the Contact Us section of this Web site.

1. Protected access Site:

The Web site and its contents are primarily intended for use by members covered under, and persons eligible to enroll in, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. All passwords used to access specific areas of the Web site must be kept confidential. Under no circumstances should you share your password with or provide access to the Web site for an unauthorized person or entity.

2. Proprietary rights:

All material contained in this Web site is protected by law, including without limitation United States copyright law. BCBSA also owns a copyright in this Web site as a collective work and/or compilation, and in the selection, coordination, arrangement, organization and enhancement of Web site content. Removing or altering the copyright notice on any material on the Web site is prohibited. Unless otherwise indicated, Blue Plans and Controlled Affiliates may reproduce and distribute content solely for use in conjunction with the conduct of their own businesses, provided that all copyright notices are included and the content is not materially altered. Unless otherwise indicated, prior written consent is required in order to modify or create derivative works based upon Content. All trademarks, service marks or other logos featured on the Web site are protected by law. Use or misuse of these trademarks, service marks or logos is expressly prohibited and may violate federal and state law.

Please be advised that the BCBSA actively and aggressively enforces its intellectual property rights to the fullest extent of the law.

3. Appropriate Use:

You may not use the Web site to send offensive or disruptive material, including without limitation offensive sexual, racial or gender related material, material that violates the Association's non-discriminatory policies, viruses or other material that may disrupt or interfere with hardware or software functionality, or spam. Notwithstanding the foregoing, BCBSA is not responsible and shall not be liable for the contents of content posted to or sent from the Web site by visitors or persons, other than BCBSA employees, in e-mail, forums, surveys, or by any other means. Opinions or comments contained in such content reflect the views of the author and not of BCBSA unless BCBSA expressly states to the contrary.

Nothing contained, expressed, or implied on this Web site is intended as nor shall be construed as medical advice. No doctor-patient relationship is established between BCBSA and you by reason of your use of this Web site or under any circumstances whatsoever. Individual inquiries about medical issues, or sensitive or confidential matters should be addressed to the appropriate healthcare professionals. You should not rely upon the Web site in any way in the event of an emergency health situation. In such an emergency situation, the user should instead call 911 or his/her healthcare provider.

4. Contributions to the Site:

BCBSA welcomes your input, feedback, and suggestions about how to improve our products and services, and this Web site. By transmitting any suggestions, material, information, or other content (collectively, "content") to BCBSA, you automatically grant BCBSA the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, redistribute, transmit, perform and display such content (in whole or part) worldwide and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content. Further, unless otherwise agreed to in advance, BCBSA is free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, and suggestions contained in any communications you send to this Site for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to creating and marketing products and/or services using such information.

You can submit your feedback and suggestions to your local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan. The addresses for each local Plan are available in the Contact Us section of this Web site.

5. Corrections and changes:

While we endeavor to keep the materials on the Web site up to date, BCBSA cannot assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in these materials. BCBSA further does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. BCBSA may make changes to these materials, or to the products or services described herein, at any time without notice, and makes no commitment to update the information contained herein.

BCBSA reserves the right to terminate your access to this Web site in the event that you violate these terms and conditions, or for any reason whatever.

6. Links to other Web sites:

This Web site may contain links to other Internet sites, extranet sites, or sites on other networks for the convenience of users in locating information and services that may be of interest, as well as links to our business partners, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, Caremark (Pharmacy Programs), Medco (Pharmacy Programs), McKesson (Blue Health Connection), Davis Vision (FEP BlueVision), Mondial Access or World Access (Overseas benefit and provider information), and the FEP Operations Center (Customer eService), who work with BCBSA to provide benefits and services to Service Benefit Plan members and FEP BlueVision members. With the exception of the Web sites of our business partners, visitors to the Web site acknowledge that these are third-party sites maintained by persons or organizations over which BCBSA exercises no control, and for which BCBSA disclaims any responsibility for the content, the accuracy of the information and/or quality of products or services provided by or advertised on these third-party sites. BCBSA does not control, endorse, promote, or have any affiliation with any other Web site unless expressly stated on the Web site. This includes the Web sites of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans and our Business Partners, Caremark (Pharmacy Programs), Medco (Pharmacy Programs), McKesson (Blue Health Connection), Davis Vision (FEP BlueVision), Mondial Access or World Access (Overseas benefit and provider information), and the FEP Operations Center (Customer eService).

7. Use of the Internet:

Use of the Internet is solely at your own risk and is subject to all applicable state, national and international laws and regulations. Neither BCBSA nor its affiliates will be liable for any loss resulting from a cause over which they do not have direct control, including but not limited to failure of electronic or mechanical equipment or communication lines, telephone or other interconnect problems, computer viruses, unauthorized access, theft, operator errors, severe weather, earthquakes, natural disasters, strikes or other labor problems, wars, or governmental restrictions.

8. Confidentiality and security cannot be guaranteed:

Please be advised that the confidentiality of any communication or material transmitted using the public Internet or non-secure Internet electronic mail cannot be guaranteed.

While this Web site resides on the public Internet, we use customized, state-of-the-art software to help ensure the confidentiality and security of any communications transmitted to BCBS Plans from www.fepblue.org. Notwithstanding these efforts, BCBSA cannot guarantee the confidentiality and security of such electronic communications.

9. Privacy statement:

The Web site has a privacy statement disclosing what information we collect about visitors, how we use such information, the steps we take to secure such information, how you can view and correct such information, and how you can decline to have information about you collected or used. Please visit the Privacy Policy section to learn more.

Service Benefit Plan members may modify and access certain types of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Personal Health Information (PHI) under the Customer eService feature. To amend any of the PII or PHI that is available under the Customer eService feature, you must contact your local Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan.

Each Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan and our Business Partners have their own Privacy Policy and terms and conditions, which may differ from those on this Web site. You are notified when you exit this Web site that your activity on the new Web site is governed by separate policies.

10. No legal advice:

Nothing contained, expressed, or implied in this Web site is intended as, nor shall be construed or understood as, legal advice, guidance, or interpretation. No attorney-client relationship is established between BCBSA and you by reason of your use of this Web site or under any circumstances whatever. The information in this Web site is for general informational purposes only. If you have questions about any law, statute, regulation, or requirement expressly or implicitly referenced in this Web site, you should contact your own legal counsel.

11. Securities information:

This Web site and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer for the purchase or sale of any securities. The Web site may contain information and press releases about BCBSA, Blue Plans and controlled affiliates and business partners, and although this information was believed to be accurate as of the date prepared, BCBSA disclaims any duty or obligation to update such information. To the extent that any information is deemed to be a "forward looking statement" as defined in the rules and regulations of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such information is intended to fit within the "safe harbor" for forward looking information and is subject to material risk factors, which may or may not be disclosed herein.

12. Disclosure for uses and response times for e-mail, electronic messages, and other communications transmitted via the Web site:

BCBSA makes no guarantees about its response to e-mails, electronic messages, and other communications transmitted in response to services available through our Business Partners accessed through this Web site. However, it will attempt to answer all such communications brought to our attention within 30 days of receipt of such communication.

13. Editorial policy:

Our mission is to give our members well written, up-to-date, trustworthy and accurate online benefit and health-related information about the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan to empower our members to make informed and appropriate decisions about their health insurance coverage and healthcare needs.

We take prudent steps to ensure we do not provide false and/or misleading information on this Web site. The information on this Web site is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or other healthcare professional. Always consult your physician to determine your personal healthcare needs.

Material on the Web site is updated bimonthly and reviewed at least annually to ensure the information is up-to-date and accurate.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association creates original content for web information and for our newsletters. We identify the subjects for the articles based upon what is happening in healthcare, in the federal healthcare environment and in the lives of all our members. Web features and topics include a more detailed explanation of benefits available under the Service Benefit Plan coverage, such as dental care, Basic Consumer Option, cancer screenings, and Medicare. We also provide information about how new laws affect you and your coverage and the benefit changes for the upcoming year.

Health-related information and newsletter articles highlight emerging trends, such as healthy living. Articles on specific health related topics, such as diabetes, smoking cessation and fitness, are based on information available on our Blue Health Connection Web site and audio library, and as needed other sources, such as BCBS Healthcare Newsletters.

All newsletters include authorship and source identification for each article, and are dated on the contents pages. Health-related information is dated and has source identification. Articles in the online newsletter and other information on the Web site, may be written by various individuals. Where appropriate, we will include a summary of the person's experience and qualifications. We believe our Web site contains up-to-date and accurate information, regardless of the authorship.

All material for the Web site is reviewed by the legal counsel of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, as well as experts with appropriate experience and training in health information, benefits, medical case and disease management, communications, finance, and privacy to provide educated and fact based feedback and comments. All information is reviewed before it is added to the site. The scope of the review responsibility includes but is not limited to:

  • Overseeing development, implementation and maintenance of Web site principles and standards
  • Establishing editorial policy standards and overseeing implementation
  • Evaluating the quality of member communications on the features of this Web site
  • Identifying opportunities for improvement and establishing priorities among them
  • Evaluating the Web site to oversee compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards

All Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association authors and content providers are required to avoid any situation where a conflict could or appear to exist between their personal interests and those of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Compliance with this policy requires full disclosure of any potential or actual conflicts of interest so a determination can be made whether a conflict actually exists and to eliminate or avoid a conflict. BCBSA employees are required to sign annual Disclosure Agreements. BCBSA employees are also required to annually certify knowledge of the code of ethics.

This Web site does not accept advertising nor does it receive funds from advertising.

14. Disclaimer Of warranty and liability:

USE OF WWW.FEPBLUE.ORG IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. NEITHER THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION NOR THEIR AFFILIATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED OR SUBMITTED TO THIS WEB SITE, AND THE RISK OF INJURY FROM THE FOREGOING RESTS ENTIRELY WITH YOU. THESE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. BCBSA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST REVENUES OR LOST PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF, ACCESS TO, OR INABILITY TO USE THESE MATERIALS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE TOTAL LIABILITY OF BCBSA TO YOU EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR USE OF WWW.FEPBLUE.ORG.

15. Indemnification:

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless BCBSA, its affiliates and subsidiaries, and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, proprietors, partners, shareholders, servants, principals, agents, predecessors, successors, assigns, and attorneys from and against any and all claims, proceedings, damages, injuries, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including attorney's fees and litigation expenses) relating to or arising from your use of the Web site and any breach by you of these terms and conditions.

16. Governing law and jurisdiction:

These terms and conditions will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without reference to its choice of law rules. By accessing, viewing, or using the material on the Site, you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal and state courts presiding in Chicago, Illinois, and agree to accept service of process by mail and hereby waive any and all jurisdictional and venue defenses otherwise available. This Web site is controlled and operated by BCBSA from its offices within the United States. BCBSA makes no representation that materials in the Web site are appropriate or available for use in other locations, and access to them from territories where their contents are illegal is prohibited. Those who choose to access this Web site from other locations do so on their own volition and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

These terms and conditions constitute the entire agreement between you and BCBSA with respect to your use of the Web site. If any part of these terms and conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining parts will remain in full force and effect. You acknowledge that, in providing you access to and use of the Web site, BCBSA has relied on your agreement to be legally bound by these terms and conditions. BCBSA reserves the right to terminate your access to the Web site in the event that you violate these terms and conditions, or for any reason whatever.

© 2001 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. All Rights Reserved. Revised 2008.