Blue Care Network Medicare Advantage Now Available in Allegan County
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GRAND RAPIDS, September 22, 2008 - The federal government recently approved Allegan County as Blue Care Network of Michigan's newest Medicare HMO territory. That means Allegan County Medicare beneficiaries can select from three new HMO options called BCN Advantage.
"Competitive premiums and other features such as health and disease management programs have made BCN Advantage Michigan’s fastest growing Medicare HMO," said Jeanne Carlson, BCN president and CEO. "We are excited about offering these popular plans to Medicare-eligible Allegan County residents."
Blue Care Network has three HMO Medicare Advantage plans tailored to meet varying needs of individuals. Two plans offer both medical and prescription drug benefits. A third offers medical benefits only.
Carlson said BCN includes additional benefits that Medicare beneficiaries have said they want — such as preventive dental care, hearing evaluations and hearing aids and an option that covers generic drugs in the coverage gap.
In addition to a statewide HMO network of 8,720 doctors, BCN Advantage members have coverage for emergency and urgent care nationwide and overseas. A travel plan covers seniors temporarily living outside of Michigan.
Enrollment for BCN Advantage opens Nov. 15 and ends Dec. 31. Plans take effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
Allegan County individuals and groups can purchase BCN Advantage either from independent insurance agents or directly from BCN. To enroll, individuals must be entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Medicare Part B. BCN Advantage premiums vary by region, based on the individual’s residence and plan option. In every case, members must continue to pay the federal Medicare Part B premium.
Details and mail-in enrollment kits for 2009 BCN Advantage individual plans will be available Oct. 1 by calling 866-966-BLUE (2583). Individuals also may call to sign up for face-to-face presentations. Information is also available at mibcn.com/medicareAdvantage , bcbsm.com/medicare and the federal government Web site medicare.gov.
In addition to Allegan, other West Michigan BCN Advantage counties are Barry, Calhoun, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa. The plans are also offered in other parts of Michigan, including Bay, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Oakland, Saginaw, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola,Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
BCN is the HMO affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. In addition to the BCN Medicare Advantage plans, Blue Cross offers other Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans in every Michigan county.
Blue Care Network of Michigan and its subsidiaries have 648,000 members. Blue Care Network features award-winning disease management programs and the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 4,000 primary care physicians, 10,100 specialists and 130 hospitals. Blue Care Network, the affiliated HMO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, contracts with the federal government and is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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