Finding Care in New York
OB/GYNs That Take Anthem (Formerly Empire BlueCross BlueShield) in New York
To find an OB/GYN that takes your former Empire BlueCross BlueShield plan, search Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's directory. Empire became Anthem in New York on January 1, 2024. Log in so the results match your plan, filter for Obstetrics & Gynecology near you, then call the office to confirm they're in your specific Anthem network at that location.
The name change still trips people up. Front desks say "we don't take Empire" or "we don't take Anthem" and mean the same company. Your card might say one name and the website the other. Here's how to cut through it and actually get booked.
The name change in four lines
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield (downstate) is now Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
- Empire BlueCross (upstate) is now Anthem Blue Cross.
- Anthem said member ID numbers stayed the same and the name change didn't affect contracts with doctors.
- Some offices and older cards still say "Empire." That's the same company.
Anthem is part of Elevance Health and remains a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Don't mix it up with the Empire Plan
The Empire Plan is New York State's health insurance program for many state and local public employees and retirees (NYSHIP). It has a different structure and network from the old Empire BlueCross BlueShield. If your card says "The Empire Plan," follow that plan's directory and member services, not Anthem's commercial directory. We keep a separate page for NYSHIP and the Empire Plan.
If you work for the state, a SUNY campus, or a participating local government or school district and you're not sure which one you have, look at the top of your card. "The Empire Plan" is the giveaway.
Anthem plan types in New York
In the State Department of Health's 2024 Managed Care Consumer Guide, Anthem plans appeared in several categories:
| Plan category | Regions reported in our coverage area |
|---|---|
| Commercial HMO and PPO | New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley |
| Medicaid and Child Health Plus (Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP) | New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley |
| Essential Plan | New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley |
Each category has its own network. An OB/GYN can accept Anthem commercial PPO plans but not Anthem's Medicaid plan, or the reverse. This is the single most common reason people get a surprise bill or a canceled appointment: the office takes "Anthem," just not your Anthem.
Step by step: finding an Anthem OB/GYN
- Read your card for the plan type (HMO, EPO, PPO), the network name, and whether it's a Medicaid, Essential Plan or employer plan.
- Log in to Anthem and search for "Obstetrics & Gynecology," "Midwife" or "Maternal-Fetal Medicine." Searching while logged in filters to your network.
- Check the address in the listing. Many OB/GYNs have two or three offices, and network status can differ by location.
- Cross-check in our directory. Our Anthem/Empire page lists providers who report accepting it, by county.
- Call the office. Use this script: "I have Anthem [read the network name from the card]. Do you take that network at your [street] location? Are you accepting new patients? Is the doctor or the hospital you deliver at in network too?"
- Call Anthem to confirm, and write down the date, the rep's name and a reference number.
It takes 20 minutes. It can save you thousands.
Out-of-state Blue plans
If your Blue Cross Blue Shield card is from another state, which is common if your employer is headquartered elsewhere, you may still have in-network access in New York. Many Blue PPO plans use the national BlueCard program to give members access to local Blue networks. Look for a suitcase logo on your card and call member services to confirm before booking.
Pregnancy care with Anthem
- Check the hospital. Make sure the hospital where your OB/GYN or midwife delivers is in your Anthem network. Anesthesia, the pediatrician who checks your baby, and lab work are often billed separately, so ask about them too.
- Ask about global billing. Many practices bill routine prenatal visits, delivery and postpartum care as one fee after the birth. Ask what you'll owe and when, so a big bill three months postpartum isn't a shock.
- High-risk care. If you're referred to maternal-fetal medicine, confirm the specialist and the ultrasound location are both in network.
- Medicaid members in Anthem's HP plan are covered by New York's Medicaid managed care appointment standards: a first prenatal visit within 3 weeks of asking in the first trimester, 2 weeks in the second and 1 week in the third. If an office can't meet that, call the plan and ask for help finding one that can.
If your doctor "doesn't take Empire anymore"
Sometimes an office still lists "Empire" and assumes Anthem is a new plan, or the reverse. Read the network name on your card to the staff. If the office truly left your network:
- If you're pregnant and in treatment, ask Anthem about transitional care so you can keep seeing that provider for a period of time. Ask early; don't wait until 36 weeks.
- If Anthem's directory said they were in network and it was wrong, federal and New York rules generally limit you to in-network cost-sharing. Keep screenshots of the listing with the date.
Our full checklist: how to check if an OB/GYN is in-network.
Gynecology visits with Anthem
Preventive services, including a well-woman visit, cervical cancer screening and birth control counseling and methods, are generally covered without cost-sharing in-network under federal rules for most plans. Diagnostic visits for symptoms, imaging, and procedures such as colposcopy or hysteroscopy may have a copay or deductible, and some need prior authorization.
A real-world snag: if you bring up a new problem at your annual visit (say, pelvic pain), the office may bill part of the visit as diagnostic, which can trigger a copay. That's allowed. If cost matters, ask at check-in how they'll bill it.
Before any procedure, ask the office to verify your benefits and get any prior authorization in writing.
When to see a doctor
Book a gynecology visit for heavy periods, bleeding between periods or after menopause, pelvic pain, or an abnormal Pap result. If you're pregnant, go to labor and delivery or an emergency room right away for heavy bleeding, severe belly pain, a severe headache, vision changes, leaking fluid, a fever, or fewer baby movements. Emergency care doesn't require prior approval, in network or not.
When you're ready, search the directory by your county and filter by insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is Empire BlueCross BlueShield the same as Anthem?
Yes. On January 1, 2024, Empire BlueCross BlueShield became Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Empire BlueCross (upstate) became Anthem Blue Cross. Member ID numbers stayed the same, and Anthem said contracts with providers were not affected by the name change.
Is the Empire Plan the same as Empire BlueCross BlueShield?
No. The Empire Plan is the New York State Health Insurance Program for public employees and retirees. It's a different program with its own administrators and network rules, despite the similar name.
Does Anthem have Medicaid in New York?
Yes. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HP reported Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Essential Plan results for New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley in the NY State Department of Health's 2024 Managed Care Consumer Guide.
My plan is a Blue Cross plan from another state. Can I see a New York OB/GYN?
Many out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans give access to local Blue plan networks through the BlueCard program. Call the member services number on your card and ask whether the New York OB/GYN is in network for your plan.
How do I check if my OB/GYN is in-network with Anthem?
Log in to your Anthem account, search the directory for the provider at the location you'll visit, then confirm with both the office and Anthem member services. Get a reference number.
Sources
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield — Provider News: The Empire name is transitioning to Anthem (2023)
- Business Wire — Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Empire BlueCross to become Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross (June 2023)
- NY State Department of Health — Managed Care Regional Consumer Guide (health.data.ny.gov)
- NY Department of Civil Service — New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Empire Plan
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.