Woman smiling at camera
Cost Comparison and Rewards

Help lower overall costs with SmartShopper®

When employees make better healthcare choices, everyone wins

Prices for the same in-network, quality medical test or procedure can vary dramatically. When your employees choose higher-cost providers, it can have a real impact on your overall healthcare expense.

With SmartShopper, your employees can shop online or over the phone for many routine medical tests and services. They can select the most cost-effective location of their choice and earn a cash reward based on the overall savings. SmartShopper is included at no additional cost with all fully insured health plans (except HSA-qualified plans) and is available for self-insured businesses.

With SmartShopper, your employees become more savvy healthcare consumers, and that could help lower your overall healthcare costs over time*.

With SmartShopper, your employees can:

  • Buscar mamografías, ecografías, imágenes por resonancia magnética (MRI, por sus siglas en inglés) y otras pruebas y procedimientos frecuentes
  • Comparar costos en todo el país para una mayor flexibilidad
  • Shop online or through the SmartShopper Personal Assistant Team
  • Receive a cash reward—with no paperwork and no hassle

See how SmartShopper works

Put SmartShopper to work for your business

Visit the BCBSRI Employer Toolkit for ready-to-use SmartShopper emails and other resources to share with your employees.

Answers to common questions

SmartShopper® is a healthcare shopping and savings program that helps you save money and earn cash rewards by “shopping around" for the most cost-effective, quality providers of many common medical services. Ya sea que esté en casa o en el trabajo, SmartShopper puede ayudarlo a encontrar la atención que necesita en minutos. It’s included with all Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) fully insured health plans—except HSA-qualified plans—at no additional cost to you.

Call the SmartShopper Personal Assistant Team at 866-285-7162 to register your account and ensure you receive important email updates regarding SmartShopper services.

  • First, you’ll need to register your account, as explained in the previous question.
  • Then, when your provider recommends a medical test or procedure, log in to your myBCBSRI account, click on SmartShopper, and follow the prompts. You can also call the SmartShopper Personal Assistant Team to get help finding a quality, cost-effective location.
  • Enter the procedure you’re shopping for and up to three lower-cost options available in your area will show up in the results.
  • Programe su procedimiento en el centro que elija. If you select one of the SmartShopper options, you’ll receive a cash reward in the mail—with no forms and no hassles—once the procedure has been completed and the claim has been paid.

Puede usar SmartShopper para buscar procedimientos de rutina y no urgentes, que incluyen ecografías y mamografías, imágenes por resonancia magnética (MRI, por sus siglas en inglés) y tomografías axiales computarizadas (CAT, por sus siglas en inglés), colonoscopías y mucho más. Para averiguar si el procedimiento que necesita califica para una recompensa en efectivo, búsquela en el sitio web o llame al Equipo de asistentes personales de SmartShopper.

Las recompensas en efectivo varían de $20 a $500, según el procedimiento específico y dónde elige realizárselo. There’s no limit to how much cash you could earn using SmartShopper. Sin embargo, si gana $600 o más por año calendario, SmartShopper le enviará un formulario 1099 para presentar ante el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS, por sus siglas en inglés).

No, your benefit plan and choice of PCP will not be affected in any way—whether you choose to use SmartShopper to earn cash rewards or not.

No, SmartShopper es un programa completamente voluntario. Usted tomará la decisión final sobre dónde realizarse el procedimiento. If you select a SmartShopper-identified facility, you can earn a cash reward. If you do not select one of the SmartShopper options, you will not qualify for a reward.

Si desea realizarse el procedimiento en una de las opciones de SmartShopper y obtener la recompensa en efectivo, llame al Equipo de asistentes personales de SmartShopper para recibir asistencia. They will be happy to help change your appointment and help you get a new referral from your doctor if needed.

If you are already scheduled at a SmartShopper facility, congratulations! You still need to shop either on the phone or online before your appointment to get a confirmation number, but you’ll receive the cash reward.

All healthcare centers and facilities on the SmartShopper list are credentialed as part of the Blue Cross network and have met Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s (BCBSRI) quality standards.

Whether you’re on the phone or online, SmartShopper provides a simple and convenient shopping experience—just as you’ve come to expect in other areas of your life. Sin embargo, cuando compra con el Equipo de asistentes personales, obtendrá el beneficio adicional de un asistente personal amigable y profesional que puede responder preguntas, hacer cambios, programar citas y apoyarlo en cada paso del camino.

*El programa SmartShopper es ofrecido por Sapphire Digital, una empresa independiente. Los incentivos están disponibles solo para procedimientos seleccionados. Los pagos son una forma imponible de ingresos. Las recompensas se pueden proporcionar mediante un cheque u otra forma de pago. Los miembros con cobertura de Medicaid o Medicare no son elegibles para recibir recompensas de incentivo con el programa SmartShopper. SmartShopper no está disponible para los planes de salud con alto deducible calificados para una HSA totalmente asegurados de BCBSRI, como BlueSolutions para HSA.