Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska is offering its first Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, starting with two plans in 2017 for people in Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, Cass, Lancaster and Dodge Counties.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska MA Choice HMO‑POS includes coverage in other states for members who are traveling or living part time elsewhere. Blue Cross Blue Shield Nebraska MA Core HMO does not offer that out-of-state coverage. Neither plan network covers CHI Health facilities, a spokeswoman said.
Open enrollment for 2017 Medicare plans started Saturday and goes through Dec. 7. People who qualify for Medicare can change plans during open enrollment.
Pat Bourne, a senior vice president at Blue Cross, said Monday that the two plans have been in development for a year and a half and are not related to the company’s recent decision not to sell individual non-Medicare health plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange for Nebraska for 2017.
If the Medicare Advantage plans do well in the six counties, Bourne said, they may be offered in more Nebraska counties later.
Coventry Health, AARP, Humana, Health Alliance, Heartland Plains and UnitedHealthcare also offer Medicare Advantage plans in the state, although some counties have few plans. A listing of 2016 plans shows 16 for Douglas County, 11 for Sarpy and Lancaster Counties and six for Cass, Dodge and Saunders Counties.
Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to “original” Medicare coverage and are operated by private companies. They provide varying levels of benefits and varying costs such as copayments, monthly premiums and prescription drug fees.
The two new Blue Cross plans offer prescription drug benefits, some vision and hearing benefits and a fitness program called Silver Sneakers. Bourne said the plans emphasize preventative care, such as flu shots and annual checkups, to improve the quality of life for people over 65.
Some of Blue Cross’ 60,000 Medicare Supplement clients may switch to the new Advantage plans, he said, but the plans are intended mostly to attract new clients.
He said Blue Cross developed the plans because it wants to offer a full array of products to its clients and it had been working on other projects earlier, including a new computer system.
Date: October 18, 2016