Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) contracts with physicians, facilities and other health care professionals to form our provider networks, which are essential for delivering quality, accessible and cost-effective health care services to our members.
We welcome you to apply to join our provider networks.
Five Easy Steps To Join!
STEP 1 – Complete an application.
Individual and Medical Groups/Clinics: To apply to join our networks, fill out the online Provider Onboarding Form.
- To add new network(s) to an existing contract, fill out the online Provider Onboarding Form for Contract as Solo or Add New Group/Clinic then select the new network(s) you wish to join.
Independent Lab Providers: To apply to join our networks, complete the Independent Lab Questionnaire and submit online with the Provider Onboarding Form.
Facility Providers (hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers or behavioral health facilities only): To apply to join our networks send an email to Facility Contract Notices.
Ancillary Providers: To apply to join our networks send an email to Ancillary Facility Contracts.
Long Term Service and Support (LTSS) Providers (homemaker, home delivered meals, adult day services, home modification and personal emergency response systems): To apply to join our networks send an email to Professional Government Contracting.
This form is necessary to perform an initial assessment to confirm your eligibility for participation. If you do not meet eligibility requirements, you will receive a notification letter from BCBSIL.
If you have completed a Provider Onboarding Form, you can check the status of your application by entering the case number you received in your confirmation email in our Case Status Checker.
Attention Commercial HMO Network Applicants:
Providers who wish to join the commercial HMO (HMO Illinois®, BlueAdvantage HMOSM, Blue Precision HMOSM, Blue FocusCareSM) networks must first be contracted with one of our participating HMO Medical Groups or Independent Practice Associations (IPAs) – see listing below for details.
Attention Out-of-State Providers:
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you making changes to your provider file. BCBSIL does not contract with, process or maintain data for out-of-state providers. To have your update processed, contact your local Plan.
STEP 2 – Submit a signed contract.
Once it is confirmed that you meet eligibility requirements, BCBSIL will send you a contract via email for participation in the provider networks for which you qualify. Simply fill out, sign and submit the contract to BCBSIL. You may submit your signed contract by email or fax; instructions will be provided with your contract packet.
STEP 3 – Become credentialed, if required.
Certain providers who participate in our networks are required to complete the credentialing process prior to acceptance.
The following provider types must complete the credentialing process, and be recredentialed every three years:
- Professional Provider Types: MD, DO, PsyD, PHD, AUD, BCBA, OD, DC, CNM, DPM, LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, PA, APN, ANP, CNP, CNS, LAC, DN and RD
- Institutional Providers: Hospitals and Ancillary Providers (such as skilled nursing facilities, home health, home infusion, durable medical equipment suppliers, etc.)
- Independent Lab
Our credentialing requirements are derived from and in compliance with the State of Illinois and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) credentialing standards.
STEP 4 – Wait for final notification of acceptance.
After we receive your signed contract and you complete the credentialing process, if required, we will let you know if you are accepted into our networks. If you are accepted, you will receive a welcome letter with your network effective date.
To check the status of your Provider Onboarding Form application, use the Case Status Checker. Enter the case number received in your confirmation email.
STEP 5 – Get connected.
Congratulations! Once you are part of our networks, we strongly encourage you to use all available electronic options to help ensure timeliness, accuracy and security of claims-related information. For more information on electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions, refer to the Claims and Eligibility section. For additional online tools and resources, visit the Provider Tools page.