Blue Cross Expands Medicare Advantage Offerings Statewide

BATON ROUGE – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana today announced the expansion of their Medicare Advantage offerings to every parish in the state for the 2019 plan year. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the bid to offer two products statewide ‒ Blue Advantage (HMO) from Blue Cross subsidiary HMO Louisiana andBlue Advantage (PPO) from Blue Cross. 

With the expanded offerings, Blue Advantage members can choose the plan that fits their lifestyle whether they prefer lower monthly premiums or a larger network of care.

“We’ve been rooted in this state for more than 80 years, and our team is made up of local residents bound together by one mission: to improve the health and lives of Louisianians,” said Sheldon Faulk, SVP, COO Government Business at Blue Cross. “We’ve worked hard to make sure our members have access to the doctors and pharmacies they need along with the added benefits they want.”

All Blue Advantage plans include:

• 100% coverage for Medicare-covered preventative and wellness care
• Prescription drug coverage with preferred retail and mail-order options
• $0 deductible for in-network medical services
• Dental, vision and hearing benefits
• $0 in-network primary care visits
• No-cost fitness center or YMCA memberships
• Solid network of doctors and hospitals
• Specialist visits without a referral

The Medicare Advantage HMO product has select health providers with no or low premiums. The Medicare Advantage PPO product has a monthly premium, offers a broader network and may have a higher share of cost for out-of-network services.

“When you choose the Cross & Shield, you’re choosing the company that is there for you from birth to retirement,” Faulk said.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. We invest both time and money in the communities we serve, supporting the health and wellbeing of Louisianians through more than 200 charitable organizations.

With our subsidiaries, HMO Louisiana and Southern National Life, we provide group and individual health insurance plans, life and disability insurance, group voluntary products and administrative services to one out of four Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also provides Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans and is a partner in offering the Healthy Blue Medicaid Managed care plan. Louisiana is the only state where we operate, with offices in every major region to serve our customers.

Founded in New Orleans in 1934, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is a tax-paying non-profit health insurer. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

For a Spanish version of this release, click here.

HMO Louisiana, Inc. offers Blue Advantage (HMO). Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Co., offers Blue Advantage (PPO). Both are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 

Blue Advantage from HMO Louisiana, Inc. is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Blue Advantage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in either Blue Advantage plan depends on contract renewal.