Home Find a Health Insurance Plan Find a Health Care Provider For Members For Employers For Health Care Providers
IBC. We're here for you every step of the way.

Special Care

Low-income health plans

For more than 60 years, Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Blue Shield have been providing health insurance to residents of the greater Philadelphia region. In our mission to make health care coverage available and affordable to more of our community residents, the Special Care* program was created. It is a low-cost, fee-for-service, limited-benefit policy designed for persons who do not qualify for Medical Assistance or Medicare and cannot afford to purchase private health care coverage.

Important announcement

Have a child age 19 or younger who needs health insurance? The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides FREE or low-cost benefits. Learn more about CHIP.

About Special Care

Features of Special Care:

  • No physical exam is needed to apply.
  • There are no annual deductibles.
  • There are no claim forms with our participating network. We pay the participating Special Care hospital or participating provider for you.

Contact Us

For more details, please call 1-866-282-2702 (TDD/TTY: 215-241-2622) or complete an online information request.

If you would like to send us a request, our mailing address is: The Caring Foundation, 1901 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19103-1480.

Request More Info  Apply for Special Care

*Special Care is not affiliated with SPECIAL CARE, Inc. a home care company.

For specific information on benefits, limitations, and exclusions, please refer to the applicable benefits materials.

Special Care

Caring Foundation

As part of IBC's unique Social Mission, the Caring Foundation helps to provide free or low-cost coverage to uninsured children and low-cost health insurance to uninsured adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Learn more about the Caring Foundation.

Compare Plans

View a comparison of Special Care and adultBasic health plans.

Outreach Partners

Services and resources specifically for community organizations enrolling adults and children into low-cost health insurance programs.

Learn more about Outreach Partners.