> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.thrizer.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Register your practice with insurance

> Find your insurance registration guide, register your practice out of network, and notify Thrizer after the payer confirms approval.

<span id="what-you-need-to-do" />

Some insurers require your practice and clinician information to be registered before they can process out-of-network claims. Registration establishes your provider record; it does not mean joining the insurer's network.

<Note>
  This page covers the plans Thrizer currently identifies as requiring provider pre-registration: **BCBS umbrella plans**. The links below are individual registration guides, not a complete list of Blue companies. If your Blue plan isn't listed, use the fallback instructions below.
</Note>

**The practice completes registration, not the client.** Follow the two steps below. Already registered? [Notify Thrizer](#registration-confirmed-next-steps).

<Steps>
  <Step title="Register your practice" id="register-your-practice">
    <span id="before-you-register" />

    <span id="when-a-plan-requires-different-registration-steps" />

    Have your practice's **Tax ID (TIN)**, each clinician's **individual NPI**, and the **practice or claim-service address** ready. Follow your payer's out-of-network or non-participating instructions, including any required clinician enrollment and group affiliations. Solo practitioners register the practice using their own NPI.

    ### BCBS registration

    <span id="find-and-register-with-your-local-host-plan" />

    <span id="find-and-register-with-your-local-/-host-plan" />

    <span id="which-plans-are-affected" />

    For BCBS umbrella claims through Thrizer, register with each required **Local / Host Blue Plan** for the practice or service location used for billing. This may differ from the client's plan shown on their insurance card. Use the billing location, not the client's home address or every state where you hold a license.

    Choose a guide for your required plan:

    [Alabama (AL) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-al-provider-registration) · [Arizona (AZ) — AZ Blue](/help/claims/bcbs-az-provider-registration) · [Arkansas (AR) — Blue Cross](/help/claims/bcbs-ar-provider-registration) · **California (CA) — [Blue Shield](/help/claims/bcbs-blue-shield-ca-provider-registration) and [Anthem Blue Cross](/help/claims/bcbs-anthem-ca-provider-registration), both required** · [Hawaii (HI) — HMSA](/help/claims/bcbs-hmsa-provider-registration) · [Idaho (ID) — Blue Cross](/help/claims/bcbs-id-provider-registration) · [Illinois (IL) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-hcsc-provider-registration) · [Iowa (IA) — Wellmark](/help/claims/bcbs-wellmark-provider-registration) · [Louisiana (LA) — Louisiana Blue](/help/claims/bcbs-la-provider-registration) · [Michigan (MI) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-mi-provider-registration) · [Minnesota (MN) — Blue Cross](/help/claims/bcbs-mn-provider-registration) · [Mississippi (MS) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-ms-provider-registration) · [Montana (MT) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-hcsc-provider-registration) · [New Mexico (NM) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-hcsc-provider-registration) · [North Carolina (NC) — Blue Cross NC](/help/claims/bcbs-nc-provider-registration) · [Oklahoma (OK) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-hcsc-provider-registration) · [South Carolina (SC) — BlueCross](/help/claims/bcbs-sc-provider-registration) · [South Dakota (SD) — Wellmark](/help/claims/bcbs-wellmark-provider-registration) · [Texas (TX) — BCBS](/help/claims/bcbs-hcsc-provider-registration).

    **Plans serving multiple locations:** [Anthem — Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Georgia (GA), Indiana (IN), Kentucky (KY), Maine (ME), Missouri (MO), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Virginia (VA), Wisconsin (WI)](/help/claims/bcbs-anthem-provider-registration) · [Highmark](/help/claims/bcbs-highmark-provider-registration) · [Independence Blue Cross](/help/claims/bcbs-ibx-provider-registration). Check the guide's service-area instructions; a state listing does not cover every Blue company in that state.

    **No matching guide?** Sign in to [Availity Essentials](https://availity.com), open **Payer Spaces**, and look for your Blue plan's non-participating-provider registration process. If it isn't available, contact the payer for its registration route. An Availity account, EFT/ERA setup, or transaction enrollment alone does not complete provider registration.

    <Accordion title="Can't find your Blue plan?">
      Use the [BCBSA company directory](https://www.bcbs.com/about-us/blue-cross-blue-shield-system/state-health-plan-companies) as a backup. Enter the ZIP code for your practice or claim-service location in **Find Your Local BCBS Company**, not the three-character prefix from the client's insurance card. Complete a separate registration with every company returned.

      If the service location is unclear, including for telehealth, ask BlueCard provider services which ZIP code to use. Some Blue companies have names without “BCBS”; the directory also helps confirm their affiliation.

      Ask the payer: “We need to establish a nonparticipating provider record for claims processing, not join your network. Which process should our practice use?”
    </Accordion>

    <Accordion title="Registration details and payment fields">
      Register the practice under its TIN and include every applicable clinician's rendering NPI. Group clinicians do not need separate practices, but may need individual enrollment before affiliation with the group. Follow the plan-specific guide.

      For BCBS claims through Thrizer, the client receives any reimbursement. If a form appears to require payment to your practice or assignment of the client's reimbursement, ask the payer how to register for **member reimbursement** before continuing.
    </Accordion>

    <span id="do-not-wait-for-a-thrizer-registration-notice" />

    BCBS registration is required even without a registration notice. A benefit check does not verify registration, and Thrizer does not complete or track it for your practice.

    ### Other insurers

    This guide does not ask you to register proactively with other insurers. If an insurer specifically requests provider registration, follow its instructions and notify Thrizer once approval is confirmed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Notify Thrizer after approval" id="registration-confirmed-next-steps">
    <span id="after-registration" />

    <span id="what-thrizer-handles" />

    <Note>
      **You can continue charging clients while registration is pending.** Thrizer will continue submitting eligible claims, though the payer may delay or deny them until registration is active.
    </Note>

    Registration usually takes up to **one month** to be confirmed, though timing varies by payer. Contact the payer for updates on your application.

    Ask each required payer to confirm that your **practice record and required clinician affiliations are active**. A submission receipt alone is not approval. Keep the confirmation and any case number.

    Once registration is approved, **contact Thrizer support through your Thrizer account** and share the payer's approval confirmation and any related documentation. Thrizer will resubmit eligible claims rejected or denied because registration was missing. You do not need to identify individual claims. See [claim handling after registration](/help/claims/claims-processing-timeline#claims-after-provider-registration) for details.

    Registration does not guarantee claim approval or reimbursement.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<span id="how-reimbursement-works" />

<span id="what-changes-for-clients" />

For paper checks and payment options, see [BCBS reimbursement](/help/payments/reimbursement-basics#bcbs-reimbursement).

<span id="special-situations-and-questions" />

<span id="associate-pre-licensed-or-supervised-clinicians" />

For clinician eligibility and supervision requirements, see [Who can use Thrizer](/help/getting-started/who-can-use-thrizer#can-supervised-or-associate-level-clinicians-use-thrizer).

<Accordion title="Why do some insurers require registration?">
  Registration gives the insurer a provider record to use when processing claims. For example, [BCBSTX requires a provider record ID before electronic out-of-network claims](https://www.bcbstx.com/provider/network/network/how-to-join), and [Sentara requires non-participating registration and a W-9 before claims](https://www.sentara.com/en/health-plans/providers/claims-authorizations/billing-and-claims/non-participating-provider-registration). Follow the requirements for the specific payer and provider type; these examples do not establish which plans Thrizer supports.
</Accordion>