Contact:
Donna Farrell
Work: 215 241-4451
Cell: 267 303-9681
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Independence Blue Cross offers broad array
of Medicare choices with lower premiums
More options, including a $0 monthly
option, for most popular plans
Philadelphia,
PA - October 1, 2013 - Independence Blue Cross (IBC) today
announced that for 2014 it will continue to offer its Keystone 65 Select HMO
Medicare Advantage (MA) plan with no monthly premium in all five counties it serves. The
Select plan is one of eight comprehensive IBC options Medicare beneficiaries
can choose during this year’s annual enrollment period from October 15 to
December 7, with benefits effective January 1, 2014.
IBC is also pleased to announce that for 2014:
· Most of its Medicare
Advantage plan premiums will decrease.
· Personal Choice 65
PPO premiums will decrease by nearly 41 percent for the medical only
product and by nearly 23 percent for medical and prescription drug product in
Bucks and Philadelphia counties.
· IBC’s zero premium
Keystone 65 Select Rx HMO plan will also include prescription drug at no
additional cost in Bucks and Philadelphia counties with reduced premiums for
this product and prescription drug in Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery
counties.
· There will be no
change in premium to the Keystone 65 Preferred HMO medical only product and
minimal increases averaging between 1.4 and 6.3 percent to include prescription
drug coverage.
· Keystone Select 65
HMO plan provides members access to a robust network of hospitals, which
includes most of the region’s top hospitals. A list of participating hospitals
is available at www.ibxmedicare.com.
“Our 2014 Medicare products continue to offer the long-term stability and peace
of mind our members have come to expect from Independence Blue Cross,” said
Robert J. Smith, IBC vice president of sales and marketing for government markets.
"As the largest Medicare health plan in our region, we've worked hard to
be the plan people know and trust by staying committed to our members over the
years while other insurers have come and gone. We are excited to offer a
variety of affordable plans to fit every member’s needs.”
IBC’s full portfolio of Medicare health plans in 2014 includes four Keystone
65 Select HMO options, two Keystone 65 Preferred HMO plans, and two
Personal Choice 65 PPO plan options in addition to prescription drug and Medicare
Supplement products.
All
of IBC’s Medicare Advantage plans offer members additional value by including
extra benefits to help keep its members healthy, such as the SilverSneakers® fitness
program, at no cost. IBC’s Medicare Advantage health plans also include
coverage for emergency or urgent care anywhere in the world—providing members
the security they need when on the go. In addition, IBC’s health plans
offer hearing, dental, and vision coverage, which is included in the monthly
premium for some plans and can be purchased for $7 a month for other plans.
IBC
also offers BlueExtraSM, a low-cost supplemental plan
that includes dental, vision, and hearing aid coverage — benefits that are
often not included in Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans.
BlueExtra may be purchased by anyone who would like to have hearing, dental, or
vision coverage in addition to their medical coverage, whether or not they are
covered by an IBC health plan.
“We
are committed to serving our members and prospective members during this open
enrollment period and speaking with them about ways to save them money and keep
them healthy,” said Smith. “We have more than 1,000 dedicated licensed
brokers/sales agents available to help members make the best plan choice
to meet their needs. We‘re hosting more than 200 meetings and setting up
information booths at a number of local retail pharmacies and supermarkets
throughout the five counties to help people get the information they need to
make informed decisions.”
Enrollment
rules and options
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) generally permits individual
Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan
only during the six-week annual enrollment period, from October 15 to December
7. Beneficiaries cannot change to another Medicare Advantage plan after
December 7, however, from January 1 to February 14, CMS allows Medicare
beneficiaries to disenroll from a MA plan and sign up for a Medicare Supplement
or return to Original Medicare.
Members
and prospective members can learn more about IBC’s Medicare plans by visiting www.ibxmedicare.com or calling 1-877-393-6733
or TTY/TDD: 1-877-219-5457 and signing up for an IBC information meeting
held at locations across southeastern Pennsylvania from now until year-end. In
addition, beneficiaries can buy an IBC individual MA plan through one of IBC’s
licensed brokers or agents.
About Independence
Blue Cross
Proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary in
2013, Independence Blue
Cross
is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our
affiliates, we serve more than 7 million people nationwide, including 2.2
million in the region. We are enhancing the health and wellness of the people
and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced
health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors,
hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care;
and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we’re changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on
Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
# # #
