MEDICARE ADVANTAGE™
An All-in-One Medicare Option
Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by private insurance companies, like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana, Cigna Healthspring all approved by Medicare. Here’s how they work:
Medicare Advantage plans provide all of your Part A (hospital insurance) benefits and your Part B (medical insurance) benefits. They must cover at least all of the medically necessary services that Original Medicare provides.
Medicare Advantage is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan, you maximize your benefits by using providers in our extensive network of doctors. You’ll find doctors from a wide range of specialties from primary care to cardiology, urology, rheumatology and more.
With Medicare Advantage, you save money
- low copay for a visit to your primary care doctor
- generic prescription drug copays are low
- discounts for health care products and services
Think of it is as an all-in-one plan. Medicare Advantage, a plan that offers all of the coverage of Original Medicare — plus benefits not covered by Medicare or most Medicare Supplement insurance plans, including built-in prescription drug coverage.
Whether you’re new to Medicare or thinking about switching plans, here are some important things to consider before choosing Medicare Advantage.
- Be sure you are eligible for Medicare. Your primary residence must be in Cook, DuPage, Kane or Will counties to enroll usually.
- If you’re eligible for Medicare and planning to retire, speak with your benefits administrator at work about your benefit options.
- Learn how Medicare Advantage works.
- Review the 2018 Medicare Advantage plan benefits and built-in drug coverages.
- If you’d like to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure you’re aware of enrollment periods. Members may enroll in the plan only during specific times of the year.
- If you are looking for coverage for the 2018 calendar year, you can enroll in a 2018 plan until 11/30/2018.
This information is available for free in other languages.
Looking for more information?
Call us at 800.275.0918 and speak to a Medicare Education Specialist to find:
- Information about providers in our network in our Provider Finder®
- Prescription drugs covered under the various Medicare Advantage plans on their formulary, or drug list
- A directory of network pharmacies near you
- Enrollment and eligibility details
Or you can call Blue Medicare Options at 1-877-213-1821. (TTY/TDD users should call 711)
Hours are 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., local time, seven days a week. From February 15 through September 30 alternate technologies (for example, voicemail) will be used on the weekends and holidays.
En Espanol
Esta información está disponible en otros idiomas de forma gratuita. Contacte nuestro número de Servicio al Cliente en el 1-877-213-1821 para obtener información adicional. (Los usuarios de TTY/TDD deberán llamar al 711.)
When do I enroll?
There are three enrollment periods for Medicare.
| Initial Enrollment Period | General Enrollment Period | Special Enrollment Period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | People turning 65 or have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months | People who missed the Initial Enrollment Period or declined or canceled Medicare Part B coverage and did not have any other coverage | People who have employer or union medical benefits or dropped prior Part B coverage to return to work. COBRA and retiree health plan participants are not eligible for a Special Enrollment Period. |
| When is the enrollment period? | Seven months that include: • 3 months before your 65th birthday month • Your 65th birthday month • 3 months after your 65th birthday month | January 1 to March 31 each year During this time, you may enroll in Part B, but your benefits will not go into effect until July 1 of the same calendar year. | • anytime that you or your spouse (or family member if you’re disabled) are working, and you’re covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on that work, or • the 8-month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the group health plan coverage ends, whichever happens first |
| What is the late enrollment penalty? | • The monthly premium goes up 10 percent for each 12-month period that you could have had Medicare, but didn’t take it. • The penalty increases as Medicare premiums increase. | • The monthly premium goes up 10 percent for each 12-month period that you could have had Medicare, but didn’t take it. • The penalty increases as Medicare premiums increase. | No penalty if you enroll within the 8-month window |
The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.
Medicare Supplement insurance plans are offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Blue MedicareRx (PDP) is a stand-alone prescription drug plan offered by HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association under contract S5715 with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
A stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract.
Medicare Advantage premiums apply to residents of Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will counties only.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a division of Health Care Service Corporation, A Mutual Legal Reserve Company(HCSC) , an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract under contract H3822 with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
HCSC is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract.
Last updated 09.28.2012
[S5715/H3822]_WEB_TMP_IL_HSOI Pending