To put an Anthem power of attorney form on file, you upload a valid, already-executed POA document through Anthem’s online submission page at anthem.com/forms/submit-power-of-attorney, along with the member’s name, date of birth, member ID number, and group number from the insurance card.1Anthem. How to Complete Your Medical Power of Attorney (POA) Form Anthem doesn’t produce the POA for you. The “form” is really a short web intake that attaches your existing legal document to the member’s account so, once approved, your agent can call customer service, review claims, and handle appeals.
What You Need Before You Start
You need a fully executed power of attorney under your state’s law before you open the portal. Anthem accepts several document types:1Anthem. How to Complete Your Medical Power of Attorney (POA) Form
- A health care power of attorney, which grants authority over medical and health-insurance decisions.
- A general power of attorney covering a broad range of financial and legal matters, which typically reaches insurance.
- A durable power of attorney, which stays effective if you become incapacitated. This is often the most useful type for insurance, because the moments when someone else needs to manage your coverage frequently involve serious illness or injury.
- Legal guardianship or conservatorship papers from a court.
- Executor of estate documentation, used when the member has died.
You’ll also need the member details Anthem uses to match the document to the account: the member’s full name (first, middle initial, last) as it appears on the plan, date of birth, member ID number, and group number. The ID and group numbers are both printed on the front of the Anthem member card.
Scan the executed POA as a PDF. The portal accepts up to three PDF files, and no single file may exceed 7 MB.1Anthem. How to Complete Your Medical Power of Attorney (POA) Form Confirm the pages are legible before you upload.
Submitting Online
Go to anthem.com/forms/submit-power-of-attorney. The portal collects the member’s identifying information, then prompts you to attach your PDFs.1Anthem. How to Complete Your Medical Power of Attorney (POA) Form The name and ID number you enter must match what Anthem has on file exactly. Small discrepancies cause delays.
Review everything before you submit. You can’t edit a submission once it goes through, so if something is wrong you have to start over. Save or screenshot any confirmation page or reference number the portal gives you.
Submitting by Mail or Fax
If you’d rather not use the portal, you can mail or fax the POA. The mailing address and fax number vary by plan and region, so Anthem directs members to use the contact information printed on the back of the member’s ID card.1Anthem. How to Complete Your Medical Power of Attorney (POA) Form
Include a cover sheet with the member’s name, date of birth, Anthem ID number, and a phone number for whoever is submitting. Without those identifiers, Anthem can’t tie the legal document to the right account. Send copies, not originals, and keep the executed original somewhere secure. If you mail it, use a service with delivery tracking.
Making Sure the POA Itself Is Valid
Because Anthem relies on the document you upload, the POA has to meet your state’s execution rules before you submit it. If it doesn’t, Anthem can reject it, or the authority can be challenged later.
Most states require the principal (the member granting authority) to sign in front of a notary public. Some states also require witnesses. A few treat notarization and witnesses as alternatives: California, for example, requires either a notary acknowledgment or the signatures of at least two witnesses.2Justia. Power of Attorney Laws: 50-State Survey Florida requires both two subscribing witnesses and a notary acknowledgment. Arizona requires a witness who is not the agent, the agent’s spouse or child, or the notary. Confirm your state’s rules before signing.
Where witnesses are required, use disinterested adults who are not the agent, not related to either party, and do not stand to benefit. Not every state explicitly disqualifies relatives, but neutral witnesses make the document harder to challenge.
Durable vs. Non-Durable
A non-durable POA ends automatically if the principal becomes incapacitated, which for health coverage is often the exact moment a representative is needed. A durable POA includes language stating it survives incapacity. If you’re drafting a POA specifically to register with Anthem, make sure it explicitly says it is durable.
Mental Capacity
The member signing has to understand what they are authorizing: the rights being delegated, the consequences, and who will exercise those rights. If there is any question about the member’s cognitive state, such as a dementia diagnosis, talk to an attorney before executing the document. A POA signed by someone who lacks capacity can be voided, leaving the agent with no standing on the Anthem account.
If You Only Need Help With One Appeal
Anthem has a separate Designation of Representative/Authorization Form that appoints someone to act for you on a single grievance or appeal, including any external review rights. The representative must be at least 18.3Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Designation of Representative/Authorization Form
If someone signs this form on the member’s behalf rather than alongside the member, the form requires a copy of the legal paperwork proving that authority: a health care, general, or durable POA, a court order, guardianship papers, or conservatorship documentation.3Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Designation of Representative/Authorization Form The authorization expires at the earlier of the end of the appeal or one year from the signature date. It is not a substitute for a POA if you need ongoing authority.
Anthem also offers a plain HIPAA Member Authorization Form, which only allows Anthem to share protected health information with a named person. It doesn’t let that person make decisions, change the plan, or act on the member’s behalf, and it expires within a year.4Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Member Authorization Form If you need someone who can call Anthem, dispute claims, or adjust coverage, you need a POA, not the HIPAA form.
After You Submit
Anthem’s legal or records team reviews the document to confirm it is properly executed and that its scope covers health plan matters. Anthem doesn’t publish a specific processing timeline. To check whether the POA has been recorded, call customer service using the number on the back of the member’s ID card.5Anthem. Frequently Asked Questions
Once the POA is approved, the agent can call Anthem, verify identity, and discuss claims, billing, and coverage. The agent can also manage appeals and request records tied to the plan. If Anthem spots a problem (missing notarization, unclear scope, or a mismatch between the cover sheet and the account), the submission is returned and you’ll need to fix the issue and resubmit.
Revoking the POA
The member can revoke the POA at any time while they still have capacity. To remove the agent from the Anthem account, call customer service and ask what they need. At minimum, provide written notice of the revocation. Notifying Anthem directly matters: even after you revoke the POA under state law, the insurer will keep honoring it until it receives notice.
A POA also ends automatically when the principal dies. A non-durable POA additionally ends if the principal becomes incapacitated, which is why a durable POA is usually the right choice for health coverage.