BCBS prefix XOX: BCBS of Illinois, Blue Choice OPT PPO

The short answerXOX is a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois prefix: commercial, on the Blue Choice OPT PPO, Tier 1 and Tier 2 network. 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 XOX prefix means


Home plan	Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC). Commercial. 1
Network	Blue Choice OPT PPO, Tier 1 and Tier 2 (network code BCO). Plans: Blue Options (small groups) and Blue Choice Options (mid and large groups). 1
Area	The State of Illinois. 1
How the network works	A tiered PPO built off the Blue Choice PPO network. Tier 1 (Blue Choice OPT) has the highest benefits, Tier 2 (the PPO network) mid-level benefits, Tier 3 (out of network) the lowest. 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 OPT PPO network

CTY: The City of Chicago.

Before a visit with prefix XOX

Copy the current card, front and back, and enter the member ID exactly as printed, XOX 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 XOX?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Its 2026 network document lists XOX for Blue Choice OPT PPO, Tier 1 and Tier 2.

Where do I send a claim with prefix XOX?

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 XOX 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.