Louisiana Blue Expands Medicare Advantage Offerings to Include Larger Part B Giveback, Expanded Benefits for Lower-Income Individuals
2025 Offerings Include Flex Card, Increased Part B Giveback, Dual Eligible Plan with Fitness and Utility Benefits

BATON ROUGE – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana today announced it will be offering HMO-POS, PPO and Dual Eligible options for its 2025 Medicare Advantage plans. 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, 2025.

Louisiana Blue offers the Medicare Advantage plans Blue adVantage (HMO-POS), Blue adVantage (HMO-POS D-SNP), and Blue adVantage (PPO) to individuals across the state, plus Group Medicare Advantage plans for employers. The HMO-POS plans allow out-of-network care in certain instances, while the D-SNP plan is for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid with cost-sharing assistance.

Depending on the 2025 Medicare plan you choose, you can get:

• $1,300 - $1,920 on a Flex Card to pay for certain healthcare expenses (non-D-SNP plans, benefit restrictions/maximums apply)
o Prescription hearing aids
o Eyewear like eyeglasses and contact lenses from a choice of hundreds of participating providers and retailers 
o Over-the-counter items at major retailers or online

• $4,200 on a Flex Card to pay for certain healthcare expenses (D-SNP plan, benefit restrictions/maximums apply)
o Prescription hearing aids
o Eyewear like eyeglasses and contact lenses from a choice of hundreds of participating providers and retailers 
o Monthly combined allowance for healthy foods and over-the-counter items, plus a monthly allowance to pay for approved utility services 

• Part B Giveback plan – get money back into your Social Security check each month

• 100% in-network coverage for Medicare-covered preventive and wellness care

• $0 deductible for in-network medical services

• $0 copay for in-network primary care provider visits, including 24/7 online medical visits
through BlueCare

• Specialist visits without a referral

• Prescription drug options that cover you from your first dollar of expense – no deductible

• $0 copay for up to a 3-month supply of Tier 1 generics at preferred retail pharmacies and
by preferred mail order

• Dental benefits, including two cleanings and two exams per year

• No-cost fitness studio/gym membership, plus digital fitness and wellness content

• Transportation benefit with 84 one-way trips per year (D-SNP plan)

• Personal emergency response system (D-SNP and Reliance plans)

“At Louisiana Blue, we pride ourselves on offering Medicare Made the Louisiana Way, with plans available in all 64 parishes of the state. Our 2025 plans have options to fit every budget, while also providing a range of benefits designed to keep our members healthy,” said Sheldon Faulk, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Government Business at Louisiana Blue. “We have increased the amount for the $0 monthly premium Part B Giveback plan because we know that it’s important to those beneficiaries to get money back in their Social Security checks. For those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid with cost-sharing assistance, we have a Dual Eligible plan that now includes no-cost fitness benefits, plus a monthly allowance for utility services.” 

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.bcbsla.com/blueadvantage 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 Educational Videos

Louisiana Blue’s Medicare experts host a “Medicare Made Easy” video series addressing common questions about Medicare and health topics of interest to people 65 and older. 

Visit the Louisiana Blue YouTube channel to see the “Medicare Made Easy” video playlist.  The playlist features short videos from in-house experts, including a Medicare 101 video (5:47) that explains the different parts of Medicare and what to consider when picking a plan. The Louisiana Blue YouTube channel also has videos about various health topics from Blue Cross’ clinical team, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists. You also can see recordings of past Medicare Made Easy virtual educational 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 helped him stay covered.  

You can connect with Louisiana Blue on social media @MyLouisianaBlue for updates about Medicare enrollment information, health tips and more. Blue Cross posts often on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. 


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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Blue Advantage from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana 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.