Published by Dan Mueller on March 20th, 2026

Included with Trustmark plans, Valenz Bluebook helps you compare cost and quality and estimate out-of-pocket costs

When you have access to clear medical cost information ahead of a procedure or service, it becomes easier to plan. Trustmark members are enrolled in different types of health plans, including traditional network‑based plans and plans that use a reference‑based pricing approach rather than a provider network. Regardless of plan design, having insight into cost information prior to medical care can help set expectations and support more confident decision‑making.

Valenz Bluebook, included with Trustmark major medical plans, is designed to support that planning process. It is a quality and cost transparency tool that helps members locate qualified healthcare providers, review cost information for medical services, and view and understand estimated out‑of‑pocket costs before care is scheduled.

What is Valenz Bluebook?
Valenz Bluebook is a comprehensive cost and quality solution that empowers smarter, more cost-effective healthcare decisions by members. The cost and quality tools are available online and through a mobile app. It is designed to be straightforward and easy to use, even if you have never explored healthcare cost and quality information before.

With Valenz Bluebook, members can:

  • Search for common medical services and procedures
  • Review cost information related to services based on their plan design
  • View provider quality and pricing context
  • See estimated out‑of‑pocket costs tied to their specific health plan

This information is intended to support planning and help members feel more prepared when healthcare decisions arise.

Why Planning Ahead Can Be Helpful
In everyday life, people often look for information before making decisions. Healthcare can benefit from that same approach, particularly for services that are planned in advance.

Some Trustmark plans use provider networks, while others do not. In both cases, understanding how costs are determined and what to expect financially can help reduce uncertainty. Valenz Bluebook brings relevant cost and quality information together in one place, allowing members to review details based on how their specific plan works.

Why can healthcare costs differ?
Healthcare pricing is complex. Costs for the same type of service can differ based on factors such as location, provider setting, and how pricing is established under a particular plan design. These differences do not necessarily reflect variations in quality or outcomes.

Independent research has shown that pricing for common healthcare services can vary widely depending on where and how care is delivered. Having access to cost information in advance helps members better understand this variability and plan accordingly.

How Valenz Bluebook Supports Informed Planning
Valenz Bluebook is designed to present information in a clear, accessible way.

Easy‑to‑Read Results
Search results are displayed using a simple visual format that highlights pricing and quality context where available. This allows members to review information without needing to interpret complex data.

Estimated Out‑of‑Pocket Costs
Valenz Bluebook provides estimated out‑of‑pocket costs based on a member’s specific health benefit plan. These estimates help set expectations before care is received. Actual costs may vary based on services received, provider billing practices and final claim adjudication.

Pricing Context Tied to Plan Design
Rather than focusing on billed charges alone, Valenz Bluebook reflects pricing information relevant to how a plan works, whether that involves negotiated rates or reference‑based pricing.

What does Fair Price™ mean?
Valenz Bluebook’s Fair Price™ designation represents a reasonable amount to pay for a service based on actual claims data and plan‑specific pricing methodology. It reflects pricing context rather than billed charges and is intended to support understanding, not direct decisions.

Valenz Bluebook’s color-coded rating system makes it easy for members to find high quality care at a Fair Price™. Seeing Fair Price™ information can help members better understand how costs are evaluated under their plan.

Supporting Planning Across Different Plan Designs
If a provider recommends a planned service, such as imaging or a diagnostic test, having cost information ahead of time can support planning conversations. Valenz Bluebook is designed to provide that information in a way that aligns with different Trustmark plan designs.

The goal is not to direct care decisions, but to help members feel informed and prepared before care takes place.

A Shared Commitment to Transparency
Transparency plays an important role in helping members feel informed when making healthcare decisions. Research continues to show that access to pricing information supports more confident planning and understanding.

"When members can see cost estimates upfront in the context of care outcomes, they're empowered to select higher-quality, lower-cost providers early on in their healthcare journeys," said Stan Opstad, Senior Vice President of Product. "Valenz Bluebook delivers that transparency in an easy-to-use digital platform, helping members make confident decisions that support smarter, better, faster healthcare choices." 

Designed to Be There When You Need It
Valenz Bluebook is available online and through a mobile app, making it accessible whenever questions come up. Whether a member is planning ahead or responding to a new recommendation from a provider, the tool is intended to support informed planning.

Getting Started with Valenz Bluebook
Valenz Bluebook is already included with Trustmark major medical plans.
When a healthcare need arises, especially for planned services such as tests or procedures, Valenz Bluebook can be a helpful resource. Reviewing provider cost and quality information in advance can help members feel more prepared.

Members can use Valenz Bluebook to:

  • Search for a recommended service
  • Review pricing information based on their plan design
  • Review provider quality data to find a high-quality provider
  • See estimated out‑of‑pocket costs
  • Better understand cost expectations before care is received

As with any healthcare decision, it is important to follow plan guidance and confirm how coverage applies before scheduling care.

Confidence Comes from Knowing
Healthcare decisions are easier when expectations are clear. Valenz Bluebook is one way Trustmark supports members by providing access to cost and quality information before care happens.

If you are enrolled in a Trustmark major medical plan, Valenz Bluebook is already part of your coverage and available to support informed planning.

About the Author
Dan Mueller is the Director of Managed Care at Trustmark. He has been with Trustmark for more than 30 years and has extensive experience in healthcare pricing, plan design, medical cost containment, and provider reimbursement. Dan’s work focuses on improving transparency, supporting informed decision‑making, and helping members better understand how healthcare costs are determined under different plan designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Valenz Bluebook included with my Trustmark major medical plan?
Yes. Valenz Bluebook is included with Trustmark major medical plans.

Does Valenz Bluebook provide estimated out‑of‑pocket costs?
Valenz Bluebook delivers estimated out‑of‑pocket costs based on a member’s specific health benefit plan.

Does Valenz Bluebook only apply to plans with provider networks?
No. Valenz Bluebook is designed to support different Trustmark plan designs, including plans that use reference‑based pricing rather than traditional provider networks.

What is Fair Price™?
Fair Price™ reflects pricing context based on real claims data from thousands of shoppable procedures, as well as plan‑specific pricing methodology.

Should I still confirm how my plan applies before scheduling care?
Yes. Members should always confirm coverage details and follow plan guidance before scheduling care.

About Trustmark®
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For more than 110 years, Trustmark has been a leader in employee benefits, bringing decades of self‑funded expertise to flexible, modern health plans that help employers manage healthcare responsibly.

Trustmark Small Business Benefits® level-funded solutions, which include PPO plans with access to national networks through Aetna® and Cigna® PPO Network, Reference-Based Pricing, and dual-option designs, give employers real transparency, predictable monthly costs, and the potential for surplus refunds.* Employees receive benefits they can easily use, and brokers get a partner who has delivered stability and service for decades.

*Access provided through the Aetna Signature Administrators solution. 
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