Home » Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield expands reach of $0 premium medicare advantage, dual-eligible plans

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield expands reach of $0 premium medicare advantage, dual-eligible plans

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 3, 2017) – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is offering its $0 premium medicare advantage plans in 29 counties to medicare-eligible Kentuckians. Anthem also offers PPO plans in every Kentucky county. This expansion complements an already robust portfolio of health plans Anthem offers in the state. All of these plans are available for enrollment in this year’s medicare annual election period.

The opportunity to enroll in a medicare plan begins Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7. This is the one time each year when most people can pick or switch medicare advantage plans.

“Once again, we are privileged to offer consumers a variety of Medicare Advantage products, because we believe it’s important for consumers to have options as they look for the plan that fits their health care needs in 2018,” said David McNichols, medicare president of Anthem’s central region. “We put our experience to work to give members high-quality, affordable health care, allowing them to live the life they’ve earned.”

For 2018 insurance plans, individuals eligible for medicare – people 65 years and older and those with certain disabilities – are able to enroll in Anthem MediBlue Plus (HMO), Anthem MediBlue Access (PPO) or Anthem MediBlue Access Basic (regional PPO). Kentuckians who are eligible for both medicare and medicaid– also known as dual-eligible – have the option of enrolling in Anthem’s dual-eligible plan – Anthem MediBlue Dual Advantage (HMO SNP).

“Anthem is one of the nation’s only insurers that can offer a full continuum of Medicare products, including something for every budget and lifestyle,” added McNichols.

In addition to Medicare Advantage plans, Anthem offers standalone prescription drug plans (known as Part D plans) in all Kentucky counties for people who enroll in original medicare, a government-sponsored program. Both the MA Prescription Drug (MAPD) and Part D drug plans utilize a preferred pharmacy network to help members save costs. This preferred cost-sharing pharmacy network will continue to be offered in 2018. MAPD will also add more hypertension medications for a $0 copay to the existing list of $0 copay medications that treat hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and osteoporosis – some of Medicare’s most common conditions and utilized prescription drugs.

Anthem also offers Medicare Supplement plans to original medicare enrollees all across the state. These plans help cover costs original medicare does not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles at any doctor or medical facility that accepts medicare. These supplement plans are generally paired with a prescription drug plan.

Anthem Medicare Advantage plans for individuals eligible for Medicare:

  • Anthem MediBlue Plus (HMO) is a $0 monthly premium plan that offers enrollees benefits such as $0 copay for an annual oral exam, dental cleaning, eye exam, and hearing exam. Members also receive a $3,000 benefit for hearing aids each year and membership to SilverSneakers, a fitness program tailored to older adults. A new benefit for the 2018 year is that members now have access to 10 days of meals (2 per day) after a member leaves the hospital. This meal benefit aims to help members recover quicker after being discharged. Members also have access to a personal emergency response system (PERS). PERS gives members the ability to maintain their independence and delay, or possibly eliminate, the need to utilize assisted living services.This plan is available in the following counties: Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bullitt, Campbell, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Livingston, Madison, McLean, Meade, Montgomery, Nelson, Oldham, Pendleton, Scott, Webster, and Woodford.
  • Anthem MediBlue Access (PPO) offers enrollees $0 copay for an annual oral exam, dental cleaning, eye exam, and hearing exam. Members also receive a $3,000 benefit for hearing aids each year and membership to SilverSneakers. The plan offers members more flexibility to see clinicians inside and outside of the network, with higher out-of-pocket costs when seeing doctors who are not in the network.This plan carries a $36 monthly premium for residents in the following counties: Anderson, Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Jessamine, Kenton, Livingston, Madison, Mason, McCracken, Metcalfe, Montgomery, Nicholas, Owen, Pendleton, Scott, Warren, and Woodford. For residents living in the following counties have access to this plan for a $57 monthly premium: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Daviess, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Larue, McLean, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, and Webster.
  • Anthem MediBlue Access Basic (regional PPO) offers enrollees $0 copay for an annual oral exam, dental cleaning, eye exam, and hearing exam. Members also receive a $3,000 benefit for hearing aids each year and membership to SilverSneakers. The plan offers members more flexibility to see clinicians inside and outside of the network, with higher out-of-pocket costs when seeing doctors who are not in the network.This plan carries a $73 monthly premium and is available in all Kentucky counties

Anthem Medicare Advantage plan for dual-eligible individuals:

  • Anthem MediBlue Dual Advantage (HMO SNP) is a $0 premium plan that gives members a number of competitive plan benefits, such as preventive vision and comprehensive dental coverage, a $3,000 hearing aid benefit per year, unlimited podiatry appointments per year with $0 copay, and a quarterly stipend to pay for certain over-the-counter health products. Member also have access to 38 one-way trips to pharmacy and medical visits that are limited to 60 miles each, the personal emergency response system (PERS), 10 days of post-discharge meals (2 per day), and SilverSneakers.This plan is available to dual-eligible individuals residing in the following counties: Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bullitt, Campbell, Clark, Daviess, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Livingston, Madison, McLean, Meade, Montgomery, Nelson, Oldham, Pendleton, Scott, Webster, and Woodford counties.

For details about Anthem’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare plans in your area, call (855) 866-4242 or visit Anthem’s Medicare online store at https://shop.anthem.com/medicare.