BATON ROUGE, La – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana today announced it has added a new statewide Medicare Advantage HMO plan with a $0 monthly premium and a $360 annual Part B Give Back to its 2023 plan options. Plus, all plans will now include a Flex Card to cover some out-of-pocket costs. The Medicare annual enrollment period runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. During this time, anyone on Medicare can enroll in plans or make changes, with coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2023.
Blue Cross offers the Medicare Advantage plans Blue Advantage (HMO) and Blue Advantage (PPO) to individuals across the state, plus Group Medicare Advantage plans for employers.
All 2023 Blue Advantage plans include:
• NEW! $925 Mastercard® Flex Card to pay for out-of-pocket costs, including
o $500 to pay for prescription hearing aids
o $225 to pay for eyewear like eyeglasses and contact lenses from a choice of hundreds of participating providers and retailers
o $200 for over-the-counter supplies at major retailers or online
• Dental benefits including two dental cleanings and two exams per year (total allowance of $1,200) covered from the first dollar of expense – no deductible
• Vision benefits with the freedom to choose from hundreds of participating providers and retailers
• Hearing benefits
• $0 copay for in-network primary care provider visits, including 24/7 online medical visits through BlueCare
• 100% coverage for Medicare-covered preventive and wellness care
• $0 deductible for in-network medical services
• Specialist visits without a referral
• Prescription drug coverage options from the first dollar of expense – no deductible
• $0 copay for three-month supply of Tier 1 preferred generics at preferred retail pharmacies and by mail order
• No-cost fitness center membership
• Up to $50 per year in gift cards from major retailers for completing approved wellness exams and/or screenings
• 24-hour nurse help line
“Every year, our goal is to give Medicare beneficiaries affordable plans with as much flexibility as possible to use their benefits,” said Sheldon Faulk, senior vice president and chief of Government Business at Blue Cross. “With our new statewide Give Back plan option, members get the affordability of a $0 premium, plus money back in their pockets every month. We also want our members to have a choice in how they use their benefits. That’s why every plan we offer now includes a Flex Card to cover certain out-of-pocket costs. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to providing local trusted service to our fellow Louisianians as we have done for more than 85 years.”
How to Get Help Picking a Plan
Blue Cross Medicare experts are available by phone to answer questions and help beneficiaries find a plan that best meets their needs. It doesn’t cost anything to work with an agent, and there is no obligation to enroll.
To learn more about Medicare and Blue Cross plan options, or to connect with an agent, visit www.bcbslaplan.com/medicare or call 1-800-568-1417 (TTY 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
Medicare beneficiaries are also encouraged to use the following resources to learn more about Medicare:
Medicare Made Easy Virtual Educational Events
Blue Cross hosts a Medicare Made Easy Facebook Live series where beneficiaries can get their health care coverage questions answered by Medicare experts.
All Medicare Made Easy educational events take place on Blue Cross’ Facebook page. A Zoom option also will be available for each event. Events are scheduled each month. Visit http://www.facebook.com/bcbsla for more details about these events.
Questions can be posted before, during or after the event, plus the events can be viewed after the livestream for those who miss them. Check the Facebook page regularly for updates about this series. You can RSVP for the events or share them from your personal Facebook page.
You can connect with Blue Cross on social media @BCBSLA for updates about online educational events, health tips and more. Blue Cross posts often on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
Medicare 101 and AEP Tips Videos
Blue Cross’ Medicare Made Easy YouTube playlist features short videos from in-house experts, including a Medicare 101 video (5:20) that explains the different parts of Medicare and what to consider when picking a plan. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana YouTube channel also has videos about various health topics from Blue Cross’ clinical team, including doctors, nurses, social workers and pharmacists. You can see recordings of past Medicare Made Easy Facebook Live events on the YouTube channel. Subscribe to know when new videos are added.
To promote fraud awareness, Blue Cross is sharing a video, “Mr. Jimmy’s Medicare Advantage Member Story.” (2:48) Mr. Jimmy and his sister, Donna, talk about what happened when his identity was stolen and how his Blue Cross agent, Hope, helped him stay covered.
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. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying nonprofit health insurer with offices in every major region to serve our customers. We have been recognized for the past four years as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. We invite all Louisianians to visit our website at www.bcbsla.com or talk to us on social media @BCBSLA.
For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call 1-833-219-7435 (TTY 711).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana HMO offers Blue Advantage (HMO). Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, offers Blue Advantage (PPO).
Blue Advantage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana HMO 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.
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