BCBS prefix QMF: BCBS of Illinois, Blue Choice Preferred PPO

The short answerQMF is a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois prefix: commercial, on the Blue Choice Preferred PPO network (individuals, on the Marketplace public exchange). File the claim to your local Blue plan; outside Illinois, BlueCard routes it to BCBS of Illinois by the prefix.

By Javier Alvarez · Updated October 30, 2026 · 2 min read

What the QMF prefix means


Home plan	Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). Commercial. 1
Network	Blue Choice Preferred PPO (network code BCE). Plans: Blue Choice Preferred PPO individual metallic plans: Bronze, Silver and Gold. 1
Who it covers	Individuals, on the Marketplace public exchange. 1
Area	The State of Illinois. 1
How the network works	The network is available statewide. Out of network, a lower level of benefits applies. 1
Where to file	To your local Blue plan, the one you're contracted with. Outside Illinois, BlueCard uses the prefix to route the claim to BCBS of Illinois. In Illinois, that is BCBS of Illinois itself. Send the member ID exactly as printed, prefix included. 2 3
Verify benefits	Through your local Blue plan's eligibility tools, or BlueCard Eligibility at 1-800-676-BLUE (2583), before the first visit. 2
Preventive MNT	BCBS of Illinois's preventive services policy (RP006) lists 97802 to 97804 under the USPSTF rows for healthy diet counseling with cardiovascular risk factors and for adults with a BMI of 30 or more. To process with no member cost share, the claim needs a preventive diagnosis code and a preventive procedure code. MNT for other reasons may be covered under another part of the plan, with cost sharing. Grandfathered plans don't have to cover preventive services at no cost share. 4 See MNT coverage at Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

Other prefixes on the Blue Choice Preferred PPO network

QME: Individuals, off the Marketplace, through BCBS of Illinois.
QMG: Small groups, off the Marketplace, through BCBS of Illinois.

Before a visit with prefix QMF

Copy the current card, front and back, and enter the member ID exactly as printed, QMF included.
Verify benefits for 97802 and 97803: through your local Blue plan's eligibility tools, or BlueCard Eligibility at 1-800-676-BLUE (2583). Ask whether nutrition counseling is covered, how many visits, whether a referral is needed, and what the member pays.
File to your local Blue plan, not to BCBS of Illinois directly, unless BCBS of Illinois is your local plan.

Another prefix? Type it in the lookup above or see every prefix we have. For how BlueCard routes an out-of-state Blue card, see BlueCard for dietitians.

Frequently asked questions

What insurance is prefix QMF?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Its 2026 network document lists QMF for Blue Choice Preferred PPO, individuals, on the Marketplace public exchange.

Where do I send a claim with prefix QMF?

To your local Blue plan, the one you're contracted with. Outside Illinois, BlueCard uses the prefix to route the claim to BCBS of Illinois. In Illinois, that is BCBS of Illinois itself. Send the member ID exactly as printed, prefix included.

Do QMF plans cover nutrition counseling?

BCBS of Illinois's preventive services policy (RP006) lists 97802 to 97804 under the USPSTF rows for healthy diet counseling with cardiovascular risk factors and for adults with a BMI of 30 or more. To process with no member cost share, the claim needs a preventive diagnosis code and a preventive procedure code. MNT for other reasons may be covered under another part of the plan, with cost sharing. Grandfathered plans don't have to cover preventive services at no cost share. The member's own plan decides, so verify benefits first.