When it comes to your health insurance, you probably often hear the terms "carrier" and "network". Yet, what exactly do those terms mean and how are they different? Understanding how they differ can you help you access healthcare with greater ease. 

Carrier

The term "carrier" refers to your insurance carrier. EMI Health is your insurance carrier, meaning we manage your benefits, pay your claims, and assist with things like eligibility, pre-authorization, and understanding what's covered under your plan. 

As your insurance carrier, EMI Health is your main point of contact with all your insurance questions and needs. You can always contact our customer support team at 800-662-5851 to speak with a representative about any questions or concerns.

Network

Your network, listed on your ID card, is the list of doctors, hospitals, and dental offices that are contracted with your carrier to give you the best pricing on services. You may often hear that a particular doctor is in-network or out-of-network. If a doctor is in-network, that means they have agreed to work within your insurance plan, and you will therefore receive care at a lower cost. If a doctor is out-of-network, they have not agreed to work within your plan, so you will most likely pay more to receive care from them. 

EMI Health partners with trusted provider networks across the country to ensure you always have access to in-network, quality, and affordable care whether you are in-state or out-of-state.

• If you live in Utah, your in-state network is Care Plus. You may have either Aetna or Cigna as your network out-of-state. 
• If you live in Texas, your network may be either Aetna or Cigna, with those same networks for your out-of-state coverage.
• If you live in Arizona, your network may be Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (with First Health for out-of-state coverage), Aetna, or Cigna.  

Remaining in-network for care is a great way to ensure you are paying the lowest possible cost for healthcare. To check whether a facility or doctor is in-network, head to the Provider Search tool in your My EMI Health account. Once you sign in, you can use the Provider Search function to search providers.  Always select the state and network to find providers.

Where to find your network information?

Are you unsure which networks you have? You can find network information in your plan summary or ID card, both of which you can access using your My EMI Health account. 

If you need additional help understanding your network vs your carrier, head to info.emihealth.com to learn more.