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2012 plan information
MyBlue Medigap℠ plan overview
Turning 65 shouldn’t change your life
Now that you’re eligible for Medicare, you have new options for health care coverage. MyBlue MedigapSM offers coverage that’s convenient and helps protect you from the high cost of health care.
To learn more about MyBlue Medigap, click the links to the left. You’ll also find answers to some questions you may have below. Just click the questions below to learn the answer.
What is Medigap coverage?
Medigap coverage, also called Medicare supplemental coverage, is a health plan that works in conjunction with Original Medicare to expand your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) benefits and lower your out-of-pocket costs. As your primary health coverage, Original Medicare provides hospital and medical coverage, but it doesn't cover all health care costs and has deductibles and coinsurance that must be paid before Medicare pays benefits. Medicare also limits coverage for certain services.
Medigap expands or eliminates Original Medicare coverage limits and, depending on the plan you select, covers all or a portion of your Medicare deductibles and coinsurances.
Blue Care Network of Michigan (BCN) offers MyBlue Medigap options for Plans A, F, M or N only. Other Michigan insurance carriers may offer other or additional plans, but Medigap plans can be sold in only 10 standard plans plus one high deductible plan (Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer available for sale). Every insurer must make Plan A available. Plan A covers basic benefits:
- Hospitalization: Part A coinsurance plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end.
- Medical expenses: Part B coinsurance (generally 20 percent of Medicare-approved expenses) or copayments for hospital outpatient services. Plans K, L and N require the insured to pay a portion of Part B coinsurance or copayments.
- Blood: First three pints of blood each year.
- Hospice: Part A coinsurance.
Like Medicare, MyBlue Medigap coverage is accepted nationwide and the plan is easy to use. There are no provider networks or referrals: Just use any health care provider that accepts Medicare. Simply present your MyBlue Medigap ID card along with your red, white and blue Medicare health insurance card whenever you receive health care services. We'll coordinate payment with Medicare and your health care providers. In most cases, you'll never have to bother with claim filing or paperwork.
Am I eligible for coverage?
Anyone who has Medicare Part A and Part B, lives in Michigan for at least six months of the year and has a Michigan driver's license or State ID card is eligible to enroll in MyBlue Medigap. You become eligible for MyBlue Medigap coverage at age 65 or the date you first enroll for Medicare Part B, whichever is later. Your eligibility for coverage under my MyBlue Medigap will be subject to medical underwriting approval. Please note: If you are submitting your application within six months after you first enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B or if you are within the guaranteed issue period, your eligibility for coverage under MyBlue Medigap will not be subject to medical underwriting approval.
What’s covered under the MyBlue Medigap plan?
Visit the Benefits page to learn more about what's covered under each MyBlue Medigap plan option.
Do I also need prescription drug coverage?
You may also purchase Medicare Part D drug coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Prescription BlueSM PDP plan.
How much will my monthly premium be?
For MyBlue Medigap plans, certain factors may affect your monthly premium. We base your premium on the area you live in and your age, gender, height, weight, and whether you use tobacco. Please note: If you are submitting your application within six months after you first enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B or during the guaranteed renewal period (Special Enrollment Period), your rate will not be affected by your weight, height, smoking status, health status (including body mass index value), claims experience, receipt of health care or medical condition.
Your premium is based on your current age and will change as you age; the change will be reflected each year on the date of renewal. We will also change your premium if you move into a different rating area. Other than premium adjustments due to age or relocation, we can only raise your premium if we raise the premium for all policies like yours in Michigan. Learn more about monthly premiums and payment options.
How do I enroll in MyBlue Medigap?
Enrolling is easy. Find out how.
What if I want to change my coverage?
You may switch to a different Medigap policy once per year on the date you originally enrolled in MyBlue Medigap.
Because MyBlue Medigap expands Original Medicare benefits, you need only one Medigap plan. If you have other coverage, such as coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan or another Medigap plan, you should not cancel that coverage until you have actually received your new ID card and are sure you want to keep MyBlue Medigap coverage.
If you find that you are not satisfied with BCN MyBlue Medigap coverage, notify us by phone or write to us at:
Mail Code C411
Blue Care Network of Michigan
P.O. Box 5043
Southfield, MI 48086-5043
If you send your MyBlue Medigap ID card back to us within 30 days after you receive it, we will treat the coverage as if it had never been issued and return all of your payments, less the reasonable cost of any health services paid by BCN during that time. You will be responsible for any deductibles or coinsurance for Medicare Part A and Part B claims or any services not covered by Original Medicare incurred during that 30-day period. If you choose to cancel MyBlue Medigap coverage after the first 30 days, BCN requires a 30-day advance notice to terminate coverage.
IMPORTANT: If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and wish to enroll in Medigap, you must separately disenroll in writing from Medicare Advantage. Submission of this application does not automatically disenroll you from your current Medicare Advantage insurance carrier. Call your Medicare Advantage Customer service department for information on how to disenroll from that plan and prevent duplication of coverage and/or a lapse in coverage. Medicare Advantage plans only allow disenrollment at certain times of the year.
MyBlue Medigap offers access to any hospital, doctor or other health care provider in the U.S. or its territories that accepts Medicare assignment. The plan does not require members to use a specified provider network. MyBlue Medigap is a Medigap plan administered by Blue Care Network. Certain factors may affect the monthly premium cost: geographic location of the applicant’s residence, age, gender, height, weight and whether the applicant uses tobacco. Neither Blue Care Network nor agents authorized to sell Blue Care Network policies are connected with Medicare.
© 1996-2012 Blue Care Network of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
page modified 12/08/2011