Blue Shield Teams Up With Zocdoc to Make Scheduling Doctor Visits Easier

Blue Shield of California (BSCA) has a new partnership with Zocdoc, an online healthcare booking platform, to make it easier for members to schedule in-network appointments.

This is the first time Zocdoc has partnered with a health plan to power scheduling directly within a member portal, according to a news release by BSCA.

This new approach aims to simplify a process that many patients say is time-consuming and frustrating.

Members can now log in to Blue Shield’s website and use its “Find a doctor” option to access real-time appointment availability for both virtual and in-person visits.

This new opportunity allows patients to schedule with primary care, specialists, dental, vision and behavioral health providers, with no need to navigate multiple websites or phone systems.

The booking feature is now live for all Blue Shield employer-sponsored plans, Individual and Family Plans and Medicare members. The tool provides access to more than 1 million bookable appointment hours across a 90-day window.

Blue Shield has some of the largest provider networks in California.

According to their website, its HMO network includes around 44,000 physicians and over 325 hospitals, while its PPO network features more than 75,000 physicians and over 380 hospitals.
The organization also offers access to a dental PPO network with more than 37,000 providers in California and a national vision network that includes over 6,900 providers in the state.
For most members, this means they can keep their existing doctors and specialists while gaining easier access to appointment scheduling.

The move is also a response to much broader issues with outdated scheduling systems that can delay or prevent care.

According to a Zocdoc survey, over half of patients who couldn’t reach their doctor by phone reported delaying care (54%), and about one in three gave up on trying to schedule altogether (33%).

Digital tools are increasingly viewed as a way to close that gap.

It was found in a 2023 Kyruus Health survey that 61% of patients consider online appointment scheduling extremely or very important when choosing a provider or care location.

The same report noted that digital access tools are increasingly linked to patient satisfaction and long-term retention.

Oliver Kharraz, M.D., Zocdoc founder and CEO, said the collaboration is “leveraging nearly 20 years of scheduling expertise to help patients easily book appointments wherever they are seeking care, to help providers connect with patients across more channels, and to help payors modernize their members' access experience and care coordination.”

The rollout also brings added value to mental and behavioral health access—a major focus amidst rising demand.

Thousands of behavioral health providers are now accessible through the Blue Shield-Zocdoc platform, making it easier for members to schedule counseling and therapy appointments without long delays or complicated search processes.

For Blue Shield’s in-network providers who want to participate, the setup process is straightforward.

Providers can activate their calendars on the system for free and start receiving bookings through the portal.
Zocdoc supports over 175 integrations with common scheduling systems used in medical practices.

The collaboration reflects a growing trend among health insurers to use technology to remove barriers from the care experience.

While patients benefit from faster, easier booking, providers gain new visibility to patients seeking care. Health plans such as Blue Shield also gain tools to support better coordination and timely treatment.