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What Are Ancillary Services?


Ancillary services are medical services or supplies that are not provided by acute care hospitals, doctors or health care professionals. Examples of ancillary services include:

  • Ambulance services
  • Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) services
  • Audiology services
  • Behavioral health services (inpatient and outpatient)
  • Cardiac monitoring
  • Dialysis services
  • Durable medical equipment (DME)
  • Hearing services
  • Home health care services
  • Home infusion therapy services
  • Hospice care services
  • Laboratory services
  • Medical day care (adult and pediatric)
  • Mobile diagnostic services
  • Orthotics and prosthetics
  • Personal care assistant services
  • Private duty nursing
  • Radiology/diagnostic imaging
  • Rehabilitation services (inpatient and outpatient)
  • Skilled nursing services
  • Sleep laboratory services
  • Speech services
  • Substance-abuse services (inpatient and outpatient)
  • Ventilator services
  • Wound-care services

How do I find an in-network ancillary provider?

To get the most from your Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield benefits, you should use in-network ancillary providers, as well as in-network doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals. Using in-network providers will minimize the amount you have to pay for health care.

Important information about out-of-state labs

Your health plan covers laboratory services at the in-network level of benefits when the services are provided by a lab that participates with the Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan in the state where the referring doctor is located. For example, if you see a doctor in New York who orders laboratory services for you, you must use a lab that participates with the Blue plan in New York to access your in-network benefits.

Blue plans across the country have educated their participating providers on how to help you maximize your benefits by using in-network providers.